The reporter might have been right about the approaching storm.

as for symbolic actions, the narrator's tearing down the wallpaper in an attempt to find the "woman" in the wallpaper represents her struggle to retain or regain her sanity.   the wallpaper has been part of her confinement and by her tearing it down, she is freeing herself from that confinement.

yes, elmers glue is non toxic. i called them a couple months and asked the same question. they said it was