Phil Olson

Summer storms used to feel like background noise — a distant rumble of thunder, a flash of lightning, maybe a brief downpour to cool the pavement. But lately, those once-familiar weather patterns are looking a lot more intense. Quick showers have turned into flash floods, and routine thunderheads sometimes bring hurricane-force winds or hail the size of golf balls. So what’s behind this shift? And more importantly, what can you do to stay prepared?

Depression Doesn’t Always Look Like What You Think When I first heard the word “depression,” I pictured someone crying all day, lying in bed unable to move. And while that can be true, I learned that depression wears many faces – and some of them smile back at you. The Mask I Wore For years, I was the “funny one.” The person who joked about everything. The one people came to when they needed cheering up. I thought that if I kept everyone laughing, no one would notice how broken I felt inside.