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 […]
Archive | National
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 […]
Editorial Advises Better Planning and Building, NOT the Ike Dike
Posted on May 28, 2010
A new Houston Chronicle article argues that building the so-called “Ike Dike” will put more, not less people and property at great risk, and that the best way to protect property from hazards is to keep them out of hazardous areas. In “Forget the Ike Dike, let’s improve building methods” Texas A&M professor John Jacob […]
One Infographic to Explain the Whole Oil Spill
Posted on May 18, 2010
Wow. I’m going to be staring at this for a while. Download the full-sized image here. “Crude Awakening” (from Infographic World)
Introducing StormSmart Connect
Posted on May 13, 2010
After months of testing, we’re extremely excited to announce the release of the newest part of the StormSmart Coasts Network: StormSmart Connect. We built StormSmart Connect to help make it easier for coastal decision makers work together. On StormSmart Connect, you can: Find other people in your profession from around the country (at last count […]
Incredible Oil Spill Photos
Posted on May 13, 2010
There’s an amazing series of high-quality photos of the oil spill on the Boston Globe’s “The Big Picture”.
New Funding Opportunity for Habitat Restoration
Posted on May 12, 2010
Via the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management’s always useful CZ-Mail: The Nature Conservancy (TNC), in partnership with NOAA’s Community-Based Restoration Program, is seeking proposals for projects at TNC priority sites throughout the United States and its territories to restore or enhance estuarine, marine, and anadromous species and their habitats. For details, see the NOAA/TNC […]
Municipal Emergency Management Messaging Systems
Posted on May 12, 2010
Emergency Management has published an interesting story on using so-called “Messaging Systems” as a means of quickly reaching residents during emergency events. These messaging systems can contact people through various means including phone or email depending on how they’re set up. While these are generally proprietary systems and aren’t free, the community profiled in this […]
Texas Town Tightens Development Rules
Posted on May 12, 2010
The City Council of Galveston recently approved new beach-front construction regulations. The new rules push new development 75 feet back from the north toe of dunes, or 350 feet from the mean high-water line, whichever line is farther landward. They are seen locally as a compromise with some wanting stricter regulations while others did not […]
County Uses FEMA Funds for Innovative Infrastructure Reconstruction
Posted on May 11, 2010
Good case study on a county using FEMA Public Assistance (PA) 406 Mitigation funds to pay for post-storm recovery using a relatively innovative technique: When technical advice from a Public Assistance Specialist recommended using a geo-textile to stabilize the embankment and make the road more resilient once repairs were completed, Lafayette County’s Emergency Management Coordinator […]