You are almost assuredly living in the hottest year ever recorded, according to NASA

Last month “was the warmest September in 136 years of modern record-keeping,” reports NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS)
This follows a record-setting July and August, which were so hot, they tied each other for the “warmest month ever recorded.”…
Best practices in disaster preparedness: Hong Kong
When typhoon Lawin hit Hong Kong, I was at the 108th floor of the Ridge Carlton building. A 180 kph gust of wind brought by the category 8 typhoon (in Hong Kong ratings) slammed at the building, and there I stood in awe watching how the city prepared for potential disasters. The windows of the buildings were covered with nets to protect people from possible shards of glass. I was fortunate to see the entire process of their disaster risk reduction management, and let me share some of the lessons I have learned…