Hurricane forecasts might falter if aging satellite fails
The News Review:
- Hurricane forecasts might falter if aging satellite fails
- Hurricane Katrina disaster tours still popular
- Hurricane ‘Cone of Danger’ Under Fire
- ld Metairie getting hurricane-ready fire station
- Emergency declared after hurricane in Russian Far East
- Hurricane injures five causes $86000 in damage in east Russia
Hurricane forecasts might falter if aging satellite fails
Denver Post – Jun 13, 2007
In the letter to a congressman NAA Administrator Conrad Lautenbacher blamed the delays on technical and budget problems. Scientists said that if QuikSCAT failed they may have to rely on less-accurate satellites. Bill Proenza director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami said authorities “may have to err on the side of caution” in future forecasts. That means “more people disrupted and more impact on the economy” he said. “n the other hand we have to err on the side of the protection of life. And that’s how we would handle it. ” Lautenbacher said the replacement is part of a larger program to update America’s weather satellites.
Hurricane Katrina disaster tours still popular
The Age – Jun 13, 2007
“It used to be we did nothing but plantation tours” Cossartsaid. The $US58 ($A69)-per-person Katrina tour now makes upthree-quarters of her business and she recently bought a thirdvan. Tourism officials have struggled with post-hurricane stress onthe industry. Some downtown hotels – including the Hyatt and theFairmont – remain closed. But the convention centre and most tourist attractions are open. The bellwether French Quarter was almost untouched byhurricane. Kelly Schulz spokeswoman for the New rleans Convention andVisitors Bureau said the disaster tours help convince travelagents and convention bookers that devastated areas are distantfrom tourism venues… Some downtown hotels – including the Hyatt and theFairmont – remain closed. But the convention centre and most tourist attractions are open. The bellwether French Quarter was almost untouched byhurricane. Kelly Schulz spokeswoman for the New rleans Convention andVisitors Bureau said the disaster tours help convince travelagents and convention bookers that devastated areas are distantfrom tourism venues. Cossart said the tours began just over a month after Katrinawhich struck on August 29 2005. The US Army Corps of Engineershired her as a guide for Japanese engineers who had worked in Kobeafter the 1995 earthquake. After visiting levee breaches the wiped out Lower 9th Ward andBiloxi Mississippi to the east Cossart said she asked how longthey thought it would take to rebuild.
Hurricane ‘Cone of Danger’ Under Fire
Discovery Channel – Jun 13, 2007
People south of Tampa who paid more attention to the track line early in the day and less attention to the cone of uncertainty — which always suggested they were in danger — tended not to evacuate the researchers found. The result: Many members of the public south of Tampa who experienced the direct hit of Charlie considered the forecast botched. Meteorologists on the other hand considered the forecast quite good… To many people the line seemed to convey a level of certainty that wasn’t there he explained. The lesson wasn’t lost on hurricane forecasters said Chris Landsea of the National Hurricane Center. Hurricane forecasters are already making it easier to toggle off the track line in their presentations he explained. They are also experimenting with new graphics which for instance show the probability of high winds and storm surges — the two most deadly aspects of any hurricane. “This is another way we can go beyond that skinny black line” said Landsea.
ld Metairie getting hurricane-ready fire station
Times-Picayune – NLA.com – The Times-Picayune – NLA.com – Jun 13, 2007
The two-story fire house will include decorativeresidential-style masonry and a mezzanine according toRigamer and Greg Gardiol director of architecture at N-YAssociates Inc. the firm that handled the design of thestation. In addition to the aesthetics Rigamer said the newstation will be able to withstand hurricane-force winds andoperate with its own power supply if necessary. There is one more change planned that should also makethe station more hurricane resistant: the sleeping quarterswill be moved to the second floor. But until the new building has been completed Station14′s firefighters will continue to work from theirtemporary home a trailer located a few blocks away at WallyPontiff Jr.
Emergency declared after hurricane in Russian Far East
People's Daily nline – Jun 13, 2007
The hurricane hit three cities and ten districts in the region. Blagoveshchensk and the Ivanovo district were announced to be in a state of emergency. “The life-supporting facilities for 436900 people were destroyed” the Far East regional emergencies center was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying. Five people were injured in the regional center. At the city park a heavy branch fell on an eight-year-old child who was hospitalized with head and spine injuries.
Hurricane injures five causes $86000 in damage in east Russia
RIA Novosti – Jun 13, 2007
25 million rubles ($86000) a local emergencies ministry spokesman said Wednesday. The hurricane hit the Amur Region late Monday. Wind gusts of up to 28 meters (90 feet) per second uprooted trees blocking roads tore off roofs and downed transmission lines. ver a thousand people and 125 vehicles are involved in relief operations… 25 million rubles ($86000) a local emergencies ministry spokesman said Wednesday. The hurricane hit the Amur Region late Monday. Wind gusts of up to 28 meters (90 feet) per second uprooted trees blocking roads tore off roofs and downed transmission lines. ver a thousand people and 125 vehicles are involved in relief operations. Some 140000 people still remain without electricity. Power supplies are expected to be resumed later in the day although some private households will get electricity only by the end of the week.