Friday, June 18, 2010

 

Sickening



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfMAadHliRQ&feature=player_embedded

Friday, September 19, 2008

 

From Live Science

Future Fury: Hurricane Effects Will Only Get Worse
Andrea ThompsonSenior WriterLiveScience.comFri Sep 19, 7:02 AM ET
The Caribbean and Gulf Coast have seen a spate of devastating hurricanes in recent years that have cost billions of dollars and thousands of lives. As residents recover from the latest hits, they may wonder about the potential for future Ikes and Katrinas.
Hurricanes, of course, are nothing new to the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, where tropical storms form between June and November each year. But many factors, both natural and man-made, can affect the number, strength, size and impact of the storms that form each season. For example, the recent surge in storms followed an almost two-decade lull that was part of a natural cycle in hurricane formation.
During that lull, new coastal residents built homes in what they thought was a paradise. But now they've found out just how susceptible they are to nature's wrath. And it looks like the situation might only get worse.
Coastal build-up
In 2003, more than half the U.S. population (or about 153 million people) lived along the Gulf and Southeastern U.S. coastline - an increase of 33 million people from 1980 - and that number is just expected to keep rising.
The buildup of these communities in recent decades and the environmental damage that development has caused exacerbate the impact of hurricanes.
"There's been an explosion of population along our coast," said Amanda Staudt, a climate scientist with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). "That's just putting a lot more people in harm's way."
This is particularly true in Florida, Texas and North Carolina, where populations are increasing the fastest. Hurricanes are especially a threat for homes right on the beach or on barrier islands, such as Galveston, because they receive the full brunt of a hurricane's storm surge.
Coastal features such as barrier islands and wetlands act as natural protection against a hurricane's storm surge, slowing it down and absorbing some of the impact. Studies have shown that every mile of wetlands reduces storm surge by about 3 to 9 inches and every acre reduces the cost of damages from a storm by $3,300, Staudt said.
"Our wetlands and barrier islands ... are our first line of defense," she said.
But the development boom in coastal areas has damaged these natural defenses, putting coastal residents even more at risk.
"The more we develop, the more we lose," Staudt told LiveScience.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates that since the 1700s, the lower 48 states have lost more than half of their wetlands. While not all of that acreage loss is right along the coast, and some is likely a result of natural changes along the shoreline, a good chunk is due to development.
For instance, some of the Katrina damage to New Orleans was partly a result of the damage to the protective wetlands along Louisiana's coast. Development and subsidence, or outright sinking, of the state's coastline today mean that Louisiana loses an area of wetlands equivalent to the size of 32 football fields every day, according to the NWF.
Many hurricane experts have warned for years against destructive coastal development and imprudent policies that encourage people to build in coastal areas, but that often doesn't stop the building.
Warmer seas
Meanwhile, the oceans are growing warmer. Global ocean temperatures have risen by about 0.2 degrees Fahrenheit (0.1 degrees Celsius) in the last 30 years. And hurricanes are fueled by the warm, moist air over the tropical Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. The warmer the ocean surface, the more energy is available to fuel a storm's ferocious winds.
Scientists have predicted that as global warming continues to heat up the ocean, hurricanes could become more frequent, more intense or both, and several scientists think that change is already evident.
As sea surface temperatures rise, they provide more fuel to the convection that drives the swirling storms. This added energy could notch up the speed of hurricanes' winds (though several scientists say the winds can only increase so much). One recent study suggested that the strongest hurricanes in particular would get a bump from warming waters.
The rainfall brought by hurricanes could also increase because as the Earth's atmosphere also warms, it can hold more moisture. Studies have shown that one of the most damaging parts of a storm can actually be the rain it dumps on inland areas.
Rising sea levels could increase the damage wrought to coastal areas by a hurricane's storm surge.
Warmer water, and more of it, could also mean more opportunities for storms to form. Another recent study suggested that global warming could extend the hurricane season; as the warm water areas in the Atlantic expand, there could be more opportunities for storm formation, particularly early in the season.
Natural cycles
Of course, the changes man has made to coastlines and the climate system aren't the only thing affecting the intensity of any particular hurricane season. Mother Nature provides plenty of variation as well.
Natural fluctuations in the climate that occur over a matter of years, such as El Nino and its sister La Nina, can also affect how busy the Atlantic hurricane season is.
El Nino events, which occur when tropical Pacific waters become warmer, can change the flow of prevailing air currents and stifle hurricane development in the Atlantic. Forecasters think that an El Nino event was the reason for the calm 2006 hurricane season, which came after two of the busiest years for hurricanes on record. La Ninas (when tropical Pacific water become cooler) typically mean more hurricanes.
Another natural cycle, called the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, can affect hurricane frequency over several decades through changes in sea surface temperatures, and is thought to be linked to the relative lull in hurricanes during the 1970s and 80s.
While natural cycles can affect hurricane activity from year-to-year or even decade-to-decade, most climate scientists think that global warming will continue to fuel these storms, and accompanied by the increasing coastal population and environmental degradation, lead to the "increasing destructive power of storms," Staudt said. Video: Learn What Fuels a Hurricane Natural Disasters: Top 10 U.S. Threats Images: Ike's Fury

Monday, September 15, 2008

 

Grand Isle Louisiana

Photobucket Album

Saturday, September 13, 2008

 

From Cookie on September 13th

I'm fine...Had the roof repaired before Ike came thru....Most of the damage is from the surge...Louis has 2 ft of water in his house....He's sick about that because he just finshed renovating it from Katrina and Rita...His company offered to relocate him in Rio ...Brazil and he's moving...Harlan's company is flooded...across the Intracoastal Canal is flooded... We're still in shock....Reeling from a direct hit from Gustav...and wham...here comes the water wall...They kept predicting 5 to 7 ft...but it has to be a 9 to 10 ft surge we took here...It topped all of our levy systems and reeked havoc on the parish...It's hardest on our friends down the bayous...the verdict is not in on the Intracoastal yet...as I go to bed tonite water pushes in from the west now and that's what floods the Intracoastal...We're praying for a northerly winds and a front to push this water out...We're resilliant...but this is very trying and very hard on us...AS well you know...
Alice is not home yet...medical services are slow to return. People have to take care of their property...then return to work...Everyone had tree and roof damage...Money is thin...oh well I guess people will understand...slowly we'll recover...We're alive!
We need a 30 foot levee system NOW!


As I read this, I remember words from my childhood, which were repeated when I was in Louisiana two summers ago - if the Intracoastal Canal flood, then it's all over. Because the Intracoastal Canal was built to NEVER flood.

Oh, NewsMedia? Maybe the fact that a floodproof canal is now at the verge of flooding might be kind of important....

 

After Gustave, Before Ike - Southern Louisiana Coast


 

From my Cousin John on September 13

Hi all,Well this storm Ike seems to have really did a number on HOUMA and TERREBONNE PARISH. I was just watching some streaming video from HTV10.COM. They were taking video of Houma from the air and it looks worse than RITA. Most of lower Terrebonne Parish is under water. Dulac, Chauvin, Cocodrie, Dularge and Montegut are all under water. What levee system? Most if not all the Bayous are out of their banks. I talked to Louis and Dana last night but I can't get them on the phone now. I tried home and cell numbers. If anyone has heard from them please let me know? I know some of you are having cell phone trouble some maybe I can relay a message if needed. My cell number is 678-982-9468.Here the weather is fine and dandy. High humidity so there must a front on the way. Cooler weather is promised for Wednesday of this week. That's all for now.Love, John

Sunday, September 07, 2008

 

FEMA

FEMA Mission
DISASTER. It strikes anytime, anywhere. It takes many forms -- a hurricane, an earthquake, a tornado, a flood, a fire or a hazardous spill, an act of nature or an act of terrorism. It builds over days or weeks, or hits suddenly, without warning. Every year, millions of Americans face disaster, and its terrifying consequences.
On March 1, 2003, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The primary mission of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the Nation from all hazards, including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, by leading and supporting the Nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation.


Do you understand that? FEMA is not designed to take the place of INSURANCE. It is not designed to help those who don't need help. It was created to fill a void, not make life all better for those who should have taken care of themselves. What happened to the values of my father? You prepare yourself, and you are ready to help others. Then and only then, when you are in need may you ask for help.

It's new, it is constantly tested, it is constantly needing to improve and it must stay fluid. Because NO MAN can predict where or how a disaster will develop. FEMA was in New Orleans and ready for what might come THERE. But Gustave ignored New Orleans. That doesn't mean Gustave left all the roads open between New Orleans and the rest of New Orleans so that FEMA could just bounce on in.

And just maybe, if everyone would quit looking at New Orleans as the be-all and end-all of Louisiana, maybe FEMA could have done what they should have done and not worried about public opinion. Maybe they could have looked at the storm track that told me, here in Iowa, that my mother's hometown was right in the path long before Gustave would get to New Orleans. But see, I can think that because no one is watching my every move, ready to take me down.

And sorry to disappoint those who do nothing but criticise the current government - FEMA was GREAT in Iowa. And there was one common theme heard from the FEMA agents - shock and relief and pride in how Iowans comported themselves during our VERY REAL crisis. Which isn't over, by the way. Yea, one FEMA guy dared say by the end of the first week that Iowa was already ahead of where New Orleans was NOW. That's because of PEOPLE, not agencies.

 

From my good friend Alyssa's blog

Gustav's Glory

Well Gustav did a pretty amazing job in Baton Rouge and Southern Louisiana. I called my family and it seems as if there is no media attention surrounding the state-wide disaster. It is crazy to me. My friend and I drove to another parish (county) today and saw even more devastation. Yes, a healthy person can live without power. Unfortunately these areas have a lot a large elderly and disabled population. One hospital is closed and others are running on generators. It is quite a site here with still so many trees down. The town is somewhat of a ghost town with only those venturing out to find food and fill up gas tanks. I can't bare to wait five hours in a FEMA line to get water, ice and MREs, but most are forced to wait...and then they run out of gas. My dear friend in Iowa found this article. It gives a great overview. I am just so thankful that my friends and their families are safe. I tried to go to work today but with no power and no phone, I had a difficult time doing my job. I used my cell phone to call my clients but only go through to one. Hopefully there will be more gas down here after the weekend so I can drive directly to my clients to see if they need help. Say an extra prayer that Ike doesn't show is face in LA! Love to all.....Alyssa
*I took this picture this evening...This is what most of the town looks like.
Posted by Alyssa 4 comments
Thursday, September 4, 2008

Still no power
My friend is one of the luckiest people I know. Her house and yard were untouched and she regained power this evening. After four sleepless nights, I am staying at her house tonight. The town is a mess....no power anywhere. I am trying to find a way to work but it is nearly impossible because there is no gas anywhere. I waited in line for FEMA stuff today and never got anything. I just hopes things can get better. I am wiped out. However, I am very thankful for the things I do have. My apartment, car and cat are safe and all of my friends down here only had house damage. So I am blessed, just really tired. If you have tried to call my phone, you have probably not been able to get through. Having lots of problems with that.
Posted by Alyssa 4 comments
Sunday, August 31, 2008

Hurricane Update
Ok, the storm is worse than I thought. Everyone says that I can't be alone so I am going to a friends' parents house. I am leaving plenty of food and water for my cat and my roommate will be checking on her. My roommate works for the Red Cross so she has been giving me updates. Poor thing....it is so overwhelming over there. Everyone wants answers and right now it is so hard to find them. I am cleaning, organizing, and packing for the rest of the day. I will check in one more time today before I shut my computer down. I have two phones so hopefully one of them will work. Don't try to call my land line because I have no corded phone. (all stores were out, I tried yesterday) I am remaining calm. I have a lot of concern for my clients. It is times like these when I wish they were all in a secure facility so they would be safe. Unfortunately that is not the case. Pray for them!Just know that I am safe and everything will be ok! You just may not hear from me for a week or so. Thank you for your prayers!
Posted by Alyssa 8 comments

 

From an email one cousin sent to another on 9/4

Folks,

Barry and I are in Pensacola at Bill Frazier's trailer with him and his mother. We evacuated Saturday, leaving about 3 P.M. and arriving here at 2:30 A.M. Absolute hell on the highway. We averaged 5 to 15 mph most of the way. It took us six hours to get to Waveland, Mississippi! People were generally calm and polite, but we didn't want to stop too often for fear of not being able to re-enter the steady stream of traffic. And all of this was before the mandatory evacuation was ordered.

Bill has been in touch with a neighbor on Gouaux Ave. who reported that some pieces of tin were blown off my roof. Of course this has me in a great state of anxiety, since we have been forbidden to return to even assess damage until tomorrow (Friday) at 6 A.M. There will be no electricity if we do return then, or stores open to get supplies or gas. We brought all of the food we had in the freezer and refrigerator with us, so we won't have that stinky freezer/refrigerator problem. The Sheriff does not want anyone who returns Friday to stay overnight (nor do I want to without electricity), so if we go tomorrow with tarps, etc. we get here in Pensacola, we'll need some place to go near Houma for overnight.

The best site we've found for news is the Houma Courier, which has heart-rending photographs and frequently up-dated new releases. From what I've seen there, getting utilities up will be a long process. Bill has heard that his mother's house has sustained no visible damage. His mother is on oxygen like our mother was, so he isn't planning to return until electricity is restored. He has offered to let us return after we secure our roof, bless him.

I've already registered with Fema. Don't know what good that will do in the short run, but hope for some benefit later on.

I's keep you all posted by e-mail of what we do, and I hope you will do the same, if possible.

Love to all of you.

Jay

 

From one cousin's email to her brother

"Sorry we got cut off...At any rate what I was trying to say was ....Maybe tomorrow I can get to Lowe's and get matching shingles...It's a very small area about a yrd or 2 on the first row of shingles.
And a small area of siding...Maybe I can just nail it...I dunno...and just put the rest of the metal for the awning under the house until ALL of the storms go by...I've love to see it twisted back into the side awning....an original that is not replaceable...The screening also needs repair but I know how to do that. Up early Monday as soon as Lowe's opens. Do you think I can climb on the roof? I dunno...guess I can.

Everyone is struggling ..exhausted...no elec on Jean, Jay and Mark's side of town yet...Jean still at Van's but Glenn here...same for Jason...He does have electricity..
Mark was suppose to travel back to Houma today...No home or camp damage...Offered me freezer food from camp...but at the time my elec was off...no place to store anything and had given all my food to my neighbor's church group.....
Louis and Dana are home...visited there yesterday ...no change there. He did have a generator...The trees in front of his house topped...those tall pines...just snapped...no water damage though....thank God...
Talked to Harlan he was out and about on errands...guess he found his land legs once again...
Made a chicken spaghetti today....because this is the first day I can cook....delicious!
Roof of the dialysis place looks all damaged to me. Alice said they called to tell her no dialysis Mon...So she's still in Reserve...
Doing dialysis there. That proved to be a good alternative...She feels comfortable there...she's used to them. For a catergory 5...I'm flying her ass to Atlanta! Gonna have to save fare an unexpected fare WITH a big luggage bill! OMG!
More in time when we all get back to Houma. Aunt Jeanette's staying in Lafayette until they figure out what what Ike's going to do....
Found out Aunt Tee is at Jane's in Thibodaux...They just got elec back...Aunt Tee sleeps thru most of the storm...caretakers are there...
Aunt Ray was taken to Alexandria...Not sure how she got there...I spoke to Bonnie. She in a camper at Percy Quin State Park...Her kids are close by....Carolyn and PC are in a hotel room in Alex...near where they are keeping Aunt Ray.... aunt Ray needs familiar things, people around her as she is very disoriented since her fall...She requires close supervision...she tends to wonder off....she'd be quite lost in Alex if she did that...Joanie is w/ Aunt Jeanette...as is Peggy and George....We had fun together...Marie is working in Dallas...She took Marks kids to 6 Flags
more info on the recovery...if Ike comes...I'm at peace with that"

Saturday, September 06, 2008

 

This isn't Political - Updates


Friday, September 05, 2008

 

HELP

I need your help, because – as usual – the media doesn’t care about real problems.

If you haven’t read the following article, please do:

https://www4.uifoundation.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=2%26aid=150002

No one is paying attention to the crisis that is Southern Louisiana right now. Because New Orleans lucked out, it’s as if Gustave didn’t happen. Look, my mom grew up on the bayou. My sister and I still own a small portion of a barrier island in Timbaleir Bay. I have a lot of relatives who are born and bred Cajuns. The real kind whose ancestors were driven out of Acadia in 1755 (and who aren’t waiting/expecting/demanding apologies or reparations from the Canadian government) – who live on the bayous and work in the fishing industry, the shrimp industry, the oil industry, conservation, education, whatever is needed. They support themselves and care for family members who cannot care for themselves. They don’t look for handouts.

My family – who I am so proud to claim – took as many Katrina refugees into their homes as they could. They dedicated the months/years following Katrina to providing housing, food, clothing, education, day care, whatever was needed all without asking for anything for themselves. And, might I also point out that they never complained about this – it’s what you do in Southern Louisiana, no questions asked – your door is open, your arms are ready for a hug or a step up or to help shell some shrimp for gumbo. Never have I heard the drive-by media thank or praise these people. They would never ask for it either – it’s not their way.

Then there is my friend Alyssa who lives in Baton Rouge. She has spent her entire post-college career working for Boys Hope/Girls Hope, living with at-risk students and helping provide them with a safe, encouraging environment in which to study and thrive. She recently changed jobs and is now a Youth Re-entry Specialist with the Justice Department in Baton Rouge. She too housed refugees during Katrina, and never thought twice about anything except what more could she do. She is, as she needs to be, tough, caring and brave.

When I have spoken to her (twice in the last two days) I have heard desperation in her voice. She wondered what the news was saying about Baton Rouge. When was help coming? They have no power (for up to four weeks), no gas, and little food. Verizon had just shown up with a truckload of free car phone chargers, which will become useless when her car runs out of gas, but that small donation allows her to keep in touch for now. Yesterday, after helping clear downed trees, she stood in line for hours to get FEMA supplies, only to be turned away empty handed because they were out. I am not sure that was FEMA’s fault. The bulk of the supplies are in New Orleans, I would guess. They’ll get there.

I know there is a convention going on. So what! It is a crime that the media is completely ignoring this situation. Louisiana, despite its long history of corrupt government, is home to so many wonderful people of all colors and creeds. Southern Louisiana is made up of black and white, Latino, Asian, Middle Eastern, and native American. The Houma Tribe has been fighting for recognition from the Federal Government while watching their land dissolve into the gulf. This is not a global warming issue – it is a land management and government mismanagement issue. There is enough blame to go around.

For all those who are so concerned about New Orleans, or those who say “well of course they are in danger, they are below sea-level” please note that was not an issue 100 years ago. While the Mississippi was allowed to dump and spread silt into the gulf there was a shelf which helped break up storms before they reached New Orleans. When the Barrier Islands were whole - before erosion caused in part because of drilling, and in part because no one has found a solution to protecting them from the traffic in the gulf - they protected the coast. When the levees were new and maintained (what did happen to all the money earmarked for their upkeep?), it didn’t matter that New Orleans was below sea level. Yes, it has dropped, but New Orleans is not the COAST. It has natural protections, which is why it was built where it was built. Restore those protections and you can quit worrying so much about poor old New Orleans.

If you want something to worry about, worry about the salt water incursion that is killing the bayous and swamps. I was in Bayou DuLarge a couple years ago and all you could see were dead rotting trees where I remembered tunnels of dense green. Yes, Katrina contributed to that. The storm surge caused the salt water to incur after all. But had the barrier islands been intact and the slow dissolve of land not been occurring for the last 60 years or so, the surge, again, would have been slowed and so much would not have been lost.

I said that no one has solutions for some of this. That is not true. Find an old Cajun and have him take you out on the bayous. He can tell you what to do. Actually find one who has worked on a rig. The people of southern Louisiana know that there is a place for the oil business in Louisiana. They don’t want it to go away, it has helped feed and cloth their families. But there are solutions that would involve cooperation between the oil companies and the state government and frankly so many of these people never see that happening. They have lost hope. Not lost ideas or love for their land or their heritage, but lost hope that the government will help them help themselves. Because we all know that’s not the function of government in Louisiana.

I close with this. I was born and raised in Southern California. I was so proud of my friends in San Diego and Los Angeles during the fires last year. I work at the University of Iowa, and live near Cedar Rapids. All I saw during the floods here were people reaching out to help either other. I saw heroes and would gladly provide their names to any one who wants to recognize them. None of these people seek recognition. And because few of these people expect the government to do the things they can do themselves the media has dropped Iowa off their radar. I see it happening again in southern Louisiana.

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