The Times-Picayune is reporting both comforting and frightening news this morning: The good: BP said early Sunday afternoon that the mile-long tube working, drawing most of the leaking oil to the tanker from the Gulf seafloor. The not-so-good: Researchers have found more underwater plumes of oil than they can count from the blown-out well, said […]
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Oil Spill Meter
Posted on May 14, 2010
This morning’s bad news comes via reports that the rate of the leak may be four or five times greater than the initially estimated 5,000 barrels a day, and may be much, much higher (84,000 barrels a day?). For a little (disturbing) hands-on exercise, here’s a widget that’ll let you choose your own numbers and […]
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 […]
The View from Down Deep: Photo of the Leak
Posted on May 12, 2010
Photo: BP via the Houston Chronicle. Thanks, Natural Hazards Center.
Texas Town Tightens Development Rules
Posted on May 12, 2010
The City Council of Galveston, Texas 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 […]
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 […]
BP CEO: Could be Weeks or Months Before Spill Stopped
Posted on May 10, 2010
NPR has published an interview with BP CEO Tony Hayward where he reports that “it’s certainly possible” that the massive amount of oil being spewed into the Gulf of Mexico from a damaged deep sea well-head won’t be shut off for weeks or even months (especially given the failure of the cofferdam). “It’s not what […]