Q: The recent storms were not even over yet some news showed homes with big blue tarps over their roof. Who supplies them and where do they get them?
—Lynn Hammond, Canton
A: The tarps are sold at building and home improvement stores, county and emergency management officials tell Q&A on the News. Officials with The Home Depot, based in Atlanta, said it sells the tarps, which typically are available year-round. Officials with Gwinnett County Emergency Management added that while it does not supply the tarps as part of its preparation measures, individuals also may be able to request them from their insurer.
Q: I understand the Navy’s ranking system, up to and including admiral, but not the way the rankings are arranged for the Army, Air Force and Marines. In the Army, it is lieutenant, captain, major, colonel and general. However, the rankings of general seemed out of order: brigadier, major, lieutenant and general. How did these rankings get this sequence?
—John Davis, Atlanta
A: The American ranking system comes from the British. When the British formed their first modern armies, generals were appointed for campaigns and sometimes called captain generals, according to a American Forces Press Service article on the U.S. Department of Defense website. Their assistants were lieutenant generals. Below them, the chief administrative officer was the sergeant major general. The sergeant was later dropped, leaving the rank of major general.
Lori Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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