Our mitten is pretty lucky when it comes to natural disasters, but that doesn’t mean we’re immune. In fact, just five years ago, torrential downpours flooded metro Detroit, causing billions in damage.
 Learn just how much we spent to clean up after the floods; plus healthy habits that can lower your chances of developing Alzheimer’s and dementia, the recommended weight a backpack should be and other fun facts in the September 2019 installment of What Counts.
$1.8 billion
We had torrential rains in metro Detroit around this time five years ago – and it caused this much in flood damages, the National Weather Service reports.
Granted, the Mitten is one of the safest regions for natural disasters, but September, which is National Preparedness Month, is a good time to brush up on what your insurance covers, make a detailed family emergency plan and follow other tips on ready.gov.
4 of 5
When people followed this many specific healthy lifestyle habits, they were 60 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s and dementia, a recent Alzheimer’s Association conference noted.
Examples? Not smoking, moderate exercise and engaging in new cognitive activities. September is National Healthy Aging Month and World Alzheimer’s Month, so make sure your loved ones are following these habits.
25
That’s how many hours the British attacked Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor 205 years ago.
What’s it got to do with this month? Well, when the sun rose Sept. 14, the American flag still flew, inspiring Francis Scott Key to pen the poem The Star-Spangled Banner. That officially became our national anthem in 1931.
44.4
This percentage of third graders in Michigan met last year’s reading proficiency standards.
That’s not great news to start. But it could get tougher, the Lansing State Journal reports, because this school year, a new reading law may hold back students who don’t pass the language arts portion of the M-STEP standardized test.
5-10
Backpacks should weigh no more than this percentage of your child’s weight, the American Chiropractic Association says.
Sept. 18 is Backpack Safety Awareness Day, and doctors urge parents and educators to be informed on how much kids are carrying. Backpacks that are too heavy are painful and can lead to poor posture. Find tips on the American Occupational Therapy Association’s website.
