Want training on how to help safely guide your community through a hurricane, but lack the resources and time to head off to a specialized class somewhere? Have a look at the Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education and Training (COMET) hurricane course. It’s free, and you can do it from any computer connected to […]
Author Archive | Wesley Shaw
It's Back . . . Senate Reauthorizes National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
Posted on July 1, 2010
From the bright and informed folks over at the Association of State Floodplain Managers: As part of a unanimous consent agreement last night, the Senate cleared a measure (HR 5569) that would extend the authorization of the National Flood Insurance Program until September 30, 2010. It was previously passed by the House, so it will […]
Panel to Discuss Long-Term Impacts of Oil Spill, this Friday (Web or Corpus Christi)
Posted on June 23, 2010
Curious about the projected effects of the oil spill on the region? The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies is hosting an event in Corpus Christi on Friday. Not in Texas (or too far from Corpus Christi)? You can also watch the event on your computer. From their press release: Scientists with the […]
New Batch of Oil Spill Photos
Posted on June 21, 2010
MSNBC has added to their already expansive photo collection covering the spill from the explosion to yesterday (day 62). While they’re not pleasant viewing, many of the photos are captivating. Don’t forget to visit the easily-missed tabs in the upper right corner that break the photos down month-by-month. “Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster” (on MSNBC)
Congress Wants Your Thoughts on New NOAA Climate Service
Posted on June 14, 2010
Today marks the first day of a two-week online dialogue on the establishment of the NOAA Climate Service. You can participate in the conversation by visiting their website: www.NAPAclimatedialogue.org. The study is trying to determine how the NOAA Climate Service can best: Provide information at the global, regional and state levels over varying timescales Support […]
Federal Flood Insurance Will Cover Flood-Related Oil Damage [FEMA Memo]
Posted on June 11, 2010
FEMA has released a memo clarifying that in the event of a declared flood disaster, National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) coverage will apply even if oil is mixed with flood waters. The brief memo suggest that the NFIP will bill the party that caused the oil damage (in this case, British Petroleum) for the damages. […]
New NOAA PDF Answers Hurricane vs Oil Slick Questions
Posted on June 8, 2010
NOAA has released a short new PDF outlining how they expect the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill will affect this year’s hurricanes. The short version: not much. The two pages of “Hurricanes and the Oil Spill” attempt to concisely answer such questions as: What will happen to a hurricane that runs through this oil slick? (Very […]
New Survey of Southeast Louisiana Residents Shows Most Planning to Evacuate
Posted on June 7, 2010
A new survey of residents of Southeast Louisiana finds that while 57% feel at least “moderately comfortable” with the area’s levee systems, drainage pumps, and emergency warning systems, about 80% have “well developed” hurricane evacuation plans and say they are willing to evacuate in the face of a hurricane (see the graph for percentages of […]
Houston at Great Hurricane Risk
Posted on June 3, 2010
Houston is hugely underprepared for a major hurricane, a new Rice University study found. Among the findings of Learning the Lessons of Hurricane Ike: Existing dikes and levees along the Houston Ship Channel were barely adequate during Hurricane Ike and would not protect all refineries from the storm surge of a more powerful hurricane or […]
Gulf Spill Oil Coming to Atlantic?
Posted on June 3, 2010
What’s the real worst case scenario for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill? What it the oil keeps gushing all summer? The New York Times is reporting that a team of scientists has run the models, and that the results aren’t pretty. Nearly all of the simulations show oil heading into the Atlantic, and, perhaps, even […]