Tuesday, May 21 2013 12:24 AM EDT2013-05-21 04:24:10 GMT
A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow as children and teachers huddled against winds up to 200 mph.
A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow as children and teachers huddled against winds up to 200 mph.
Friday, April 19 2013 6:11 PM EDT2013-04-19 22:11:38 GMT
Tornado Watch for DC Region until 10pm. Be prepared. Tornadoes can form from severe thunderstorms with little or no advanced warning. Know your safe room in your home, at school, and at work. Do not use highway overpasses as shelters. Remain alert for the issuance of warnings.
Tornado Watch for DC Region until 10pm. Be prepared. Tornadoes can form from severe thunderstorms with little or no advanced warning. Know your safe room in your home, at school, and at work. Do not use highway overpasses as shelters. Remain alert for the issuance of warnings.
Wednesday, March 20 2013 5:29 AM EDT2013-03-20 09:29:18 GMT
A weak storm tracking over the Florida Peninsula Wednesday will turn northward along the East Coast Wednesday night into Thursday morning, producing a bit of wet snow in some areas.
A weak storm tracking over the Florida Peninsula Wednesday will turn northward along the East Coast Wednesday night into Thursday morning, producing a bit of wet snow in some areas.
Monday, March 18 2013 6:54 AM EDT2013-03-18 10:54:45 GMT
ACCUWEATHER - The heavy snow invading the Northeast Monday will graze the Interstate 95 corridor from Washington, D.C., to New York City to Boston, but eventually rain will win out over the snow.
ACCUWEATHER - The heavy snow invading the Northeast Monday will graze the Interstate 95 corridor from Washington, D.C., to New York City to Boston, but eventually rain will win out over the snow.
BALTIMORE -
News Release from Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler:
After the big storm, your home, yard, auto or business may be in need of major repairs as a result of the wind or water damage. Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler urges you to be wary of home repair scams and other consumer fraud that often follow in the wake of the storm's destructive path.
"After any big storm we'll often see a sudden gust of con artists who swoop in hoping to take advantage of desperate families and business owners," said Attorney General Gansler. "Be wary of door-to-door salesmen using high pressure tactics to get your hard-earned money. You may never see that money again while the job goes undone."
The vast majority of home repair contractors, tree removal companies and car repair shops in Maryland are reputable businesses doing good work for their customers. Many are eager to help their neighbors and their community recover from a disaster. These are people you are likely to know and trust. Attorney General Gansler urges consumers to be wary of people you do not know who solicit you at your home or business.
Warning signs that consumers should look for following severe weather include:
Traveling salesmen who come knocking on your door immediately after a disaster
High-pressure sales tactics
Demands for up-front payments
Demands for an immediate decision
Advance-fee loans that "guarantee" a loan to rebuild your home or business
Before you give anyone your money, Attorney General Gansler advises Maryland homeowners and small businesses to be cautious and:
Check to see if a home improvement contractor is licensed by the Maryland Home Improvement Commission and to inquire about the contractor's complaint history, call 410-230-6309 or visit http://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/mhic/.
Deal only with contractors who have an established Maryland business.
Obtain at least three bids for major repair work and check references. Be cautious if one of the bids is much lower than the others.
Make certain that all important details concerning the work are written into the bid and contract, including: all of the work that the contractor has agreed to perform, the dates the work will begin and is expected to be completed, the total cost of the work, the type and quality of materials to be used, how and when payments will be made, and the provisions of warranties on the materials and labor.
AG Gansler also advises consumers to be wary of phony relief efforts, fraudulent charities and scam artists who use the name of an organization similar to a well-known charity. Marylanders should contribute only to organizations that they know well and that willingly provide written information about their charitable efforts. Consumers should avoid making cash donations and always make checks payable to the organization, not the individual soliciting.
Check that a charity is registered with the state as required by law, by calling the Maryland Secretary of State's Charities Division at 410-974-5534 or 1-800-825-4510
For more information on storm-related fraud, consumer complaints and insurance issues please visit these links:
For information and a video on tree damage and insurance issues from the Attorney General's People's Insurance Counsel Division: http://www.oag.state.md.us/PIC/index.htm
If you wish to file a consumer complaint - other than home repair - contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at 410-528-8662 or 1-888-743-0023 toll-free in Maryland. You can also file a consumer complaint on line by visiting: http://www.oag.state.md.us/Consumer/complaint.htm
For home repair consumer information; to see if a contractor is licensed, the contractor's complaint history or to file a complaint, call the Maryland Home Improvement Commission at 410-230-6309 or visit the MHIC website at: http://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/mhic/
We know you have busy schedules and can't always get to a TV, so when you need weather information - and you need it immediately - there's only one place you need to click when you are on the go, the FOX 5 Weather App!!
We know you have busy schedules and can't always get to a TV, so when you need weather information - and you need it immediately - there's only one place you need to click when you are on the go, the FOX 5 Weather App!!
WTTG FOX 5 & myfoxdc 5151 Wisconsin Ave. NW Washington, DC 20016 Main Number: (202) 244-5151 Newsroom: (202) 895-3000 fox5tips@wttg.com
