Flooding in parts of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast have been record-breaking and life-altering. As a scientist that studies extreme precipitation I found myself saying “wow” to pictures and reports of 30+ inches (2.5 feet) of rainfall. All weekend I saw friends posting in social media about family members losing everything or having to be rescued from homes by helicopters. Meteorologists predicted this extreme weather event, and there will certainly be discussions about how it fits within the context of a changing climate. Herein I am motivated by the statement, “I have never seen anything like this before,” overheard in several media reports.  Is there a psychological context for how humans deal with events outside their own experiences or understanding?

from Forbes – Tech http://ift.tt/2bstTqP
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