Rescuers Struggle to aid Philippines storm victims

Follow-up on Typhoon Bopha:

children recovering a bike (December 6)

Philippine navy personnel arrange donated coffins (Tuesday, December 11)

uprooted coconut trees lay in the mountains of Cateel, Davao Oriental province on December 11

residents queue up to receive relief goods from the government (Thursday, December 6)

More than 180,000 people were left homeless after Typhoon Bopha.  As of Thursday, December 6, the storm had left 325 dead, 411 injured, and 379 missing, the Philippines National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported.  Many of the missing were in remote highland towns.

Fresh water is scarce--ocean water has contaminated many wells--and sanitation and hygiene are looming problems.  In one case in Davao Oriental, the evacuation centers--public buildings and schools--were also victims of flash flooding.  As a result, some people who were in an evacuation center died.

It's also difficult for evacuation teams and helpers to communicate because power lines and communication signals are down.

I read in a different article stating that the current death toll (as of Thursday, December 11) has surpassed 600.  How painful it must be for the survivors to find out that they've lost a brother, sister, or a parent.  In the New Bataan province, about 420 people were confirmed dead from Typhoon Bopha.  This area contained steep valleys, rivers criss-crossing through the town, and lush hillsides of banana, coconut, cocoa, and mango plantations.  Environment Secretary stated on December 6th that this isn't only an environmental issue, it's a poverty issue.  The people would say things like, "We are better off here. At least we have food to eat or money to buy food, even if it is risky".

Another perfect example of the difference in MDC's and LDC's.  Many of the people living in the New Bataan province are working as farmers, and if these farms are washed away, they have no work.  They have no other option of work, especially if that's all they have done their entire life.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57557467/philippines-typhoon-death-toll-passes-350/

Searching for Typhoon Victims

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/06/world/asia/typhoon-said-to-have-killed-hundreds-in-philippines.html?_r=1&

Follow-up on Philippines:

Things aren't looking so good.  In the article, "Philippines Struggles to Reach Typhoon's Victims," we learn that there are still hundreds of people missing, including soldiers who were on search-and-rescue operations.  Death toll (as of December 5, 2012) is now at least 325.  Out of these casualties, a total of 184 were from the Compostela Valley province I had mentioned in an earlier post.  Officials say that most of the typhoon's victims appeared to have drowned or been hit by falling trees or flying debris.

Local TV continue to broadcast footage of affected areas, grisly images of muddied bodies, completely washed out towns, and people with no homes.  Pictures were painful to look at.  The eastern coast of Mindanao, which was the area hardest hit by the storm, is a remote, impoverished agricultural area.  Tens of thousands of fallen coconut trees and many acres of destroyed banana plantations now reside in the area.

When informed that the water was coming down fast, resident Virgilia Babaag gathered up her three young nieces staying with her and ran through the night toward high ground.  When she later returned after the storm, her roof was gone.

Reading articles such as these are very hard for me.  I think I'm one of those overly sensitive people who sympathize for others.  I can't imagine having to flee for my life and losing a home.  Again, this is a great example of how MDC's often "survive" such hazards.  The victims of Hurricane Sandy were assisted right away and we had governmental aid that could potential restore the east coast.  Unfortunately, not all countries have that luxury.

Typhoon in the Philippines

http://news.yahoo.com/philippines-biggest-typhoon-kills-least-82-many-buried-041047352.html

As I was reading my daily Yahoo News, I came across this article and was absolutely heartbroken.  A typhoon hit hard in southern Philippines and had already killed at least 283 people.  Interior Minister Manuel Roxas said 300 people were missing.

Typhoon Bopha hit hardest and made landfall on the island of Mindanao.  The worst hit province was Compostela Valley, where waves of water and mud came crashing down mountains and swept through schools, town halls and clinics.  The last building standing in the area was the school.  The governor of that province was Arthur Uy, and he mentioned how unexpectedly fierce the winds and water came.  Uy also said that the irrigation reservoirs on topof mountains had given way sending large volumes of water to the valleys.  Torrential rain often triggers landslides down slopes stripped of their forest cover.

Many people in the area saw their friends and family being swept away by the flash flood.  It was very difficult to read towards the end.

After reading this article, I posted on my Facebook status, "praying for the Philippines".  Immediately, I had about four friends commenting, "What happened?".  Earlier this semester, we learned about LDC's and MDC's and how this relates to hazard.  When Hurricane Sandy took out electricity on the east coast for a few days, America went berserk and covered that shit on the news like crazy.  But then we read stuff like Typhoon Bopha killing 283 people and families being swept away by the water, hardly anyone hears about it (one of the reasons why I love my major).  As we can see here, the Philippines were particularly vulnerable to typhoons because of their geographical location and because it's a country consisting of many islands.  I do hope that there will be more aid headed towards their way.  Continuously sending prayers and will be keeping up to date with this unfortunate situation.

New Zealand Volcano Erupts; No One Hurt

Mount Tongariro erupted with a brief blast of dark ash on Wednesday, November 21, 2012, cancelling flights but causing no significant damage.  Schoolchildren and dozens of other hikers who were walking on trails along the mountain's base were safe.  This was the second time the New Zealand volcano has erupted in less than four months, and it sent a dark ash plume about 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) into the sky.  A no-fly alert above the mountain located in the sparsely populated area of central North Island was issued by authorities.

National carrier Air New Zealand advised travelers that some of its flights could be delayed or cancelled because of the eruption.  Airline spokeswoman Brigitte Ransom said two flights had been cancelled by midafternoon.

Tongariro National Park is a popular tourist destination (being the backdrop for many scenes in "The Lord of the Rings" movies.

Tony Hurst, a volcanologist with GNS Science, said the eruption lasted about five minutes and was unexpected.  Hurst believes that the dark ask indicated magma pressure deep underground, causing the eruption.

I thought this article was interesting in that no one was actually hurt during the eruption.  Even though no on was seriously injured, I'm curious to see how the public would have responded if there was indeed a large group of people who were injured.  Since Hurst stated the eruption was unexpected, it can be awfully difficult to mitigate for such an event.

Importance of Mitigation for Extreme Weather

http://www.weather.com/news/weather-hurricanes/roads-extreme-weather-20121121

 

After Superstorm Sandy, America is second-guessing the strength and capabilitiy of their infrastructure.  Roads, airports, railways, and transit systems are getting hammered by extreme weather beyond what their builders imagined.  The article, "U.S. Roads, Airports Unready for Extreme Weather," published on Nov. 21, 2012 and written by Joan Lowy, discussed the too politically sensitive to say aloud the source of their weather worries:  climate change.

 

Sustainable Transportation, Energy Infrastructure and Climate Solutions Steering Committee executive director John Horsley commented, "There is a whole series of standards that are going to have to be revisited in light of the change in climate that is coming at us."

 

For example, Superstorm Sandy inflicted the worst damage to the New York subway system in its 108-year history.  Flooding in Nebraska also threatened the Omaha airport, and caused sinkholes and soil boils in the area.  Record-smashing heat from Colorado to Virginia last summer caused train tracks to bend and highway pavement to buckle.

 

With the weather pattern being so erratic, it can be difficult to predict the kind of winter or summers we'll be having.  In order to decrease risk, improvements must be made on our nations infrastructure.

 

A congressional commission estimated that all levels of government together are spending $138 billion a year less than is needed to maintain the current system and to make modest improvements.

 

--

 

With our sophisticated technology, I am certain that we will be able to construct sustainable, cost-effective (loosely said) infrastructure that can mitigate extreme weather.  It will be difficult to fork up the money for that because so many people don't believe in our changing climate.  I also think it's important to implement affordable, safe, green transportation options (such as hybrid cars).  It's eco-friendly overall and can come hand in hand in with infrastructure.

 

As terrible and damaging as Hurricane Sandy was, I think it was important that such an event occurred, because it was a huge wake up call for our government and the people who live on the east coast (or coasts in general).  As I have mentioned before in blogposts, I think the only way for us to better our technology and increase in efficiency, we need to go through such events.  Learning from our mistakes can only improve our mitigation efforts.

SC Marsh Rat Invasion... Yikes!!

I stumbled upon an article a couple of weeks ago titled, "Blame Rain for SC Marsh Rat Invasion".  First off, people often call me, "Sandy, the Fearless".  Okay, no one calls me that, but I like to think of myself as someone who isn't afraid of anything and doesn't hold any phobias.  As most people are deathly afraid of spiders and bugs, I am deathly afraid of rodents.  Rats, mice, you name it.  I cringed when I read the title of the article, but I heard somewhere that the more you are exposed to your fear, the less you will be afraid of it.  So I read the article.

Published on Nov. 24, 2012 and written by Tom Barton, the article discussed the increase in rat population in Hilton Head, South Carolina.  Pest-control companies have been busy the past few weeks due to this problem.  Billy Karijanian, director of operations for Critter Management on Hilton Head, said the population has exploded because of last winter being warmer than usual and plenty of rain this year.  "A freeze last year would have killed off some of the population," Karijanian added.  Abundance in food and water has also supported the rat population.

John Kaiser with island Pest Control on Hilton Head and education director at the LowCountry Institute Tony Mills mentioned that the rat population actually didn't increase by that much.  They contested that due to high tides covering their habitats, these rats are ending up in people's yards and homes because there are fewer places for them to go.  Other worries with the rats include health hazards and infectious diseases.

The hantavirus, a severe, sometimes fatal respiratory disease that kills about a third of those infected.  There have been no reports of hantavirus in South Carolina in recent years, mentioned S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control spokesman Mark Plowden.  The virus is located in the rodents' urine, droppings, and saliva, and primarily spread when people breathe in air contaminated with the virus.  People can also get the virus by touching items contaminated with rodent urine, droppings or saliva, and then touching their nose or mouth.

The agency recommends removal of food, water, and items that produce shelters for rodents; covering gaps around fireplaces, walls, pipes, dorrs, vents, and etc. where rats and mice can get inside.  Setting traps and cleaning up mouse and rate urine, droppings and nests with a disinfectant or mixture of bleach and water and also help mitigate againt this virus.

It's interesting that rain water can contribute to the "increase" of pests in residential areas.  I've come to understand that though we (humans) often feel like we're on top of things, we're actually a part of a huge cycle within the environment.  A part of us want to have contol of our surroundings and blame the environment when things go wrong, and this article is a perfect example of that.  Being so afraid of rats, I appreciate the tips given at the end, but I certainly don't have to worry about a rat population (at least not yet) in Eau Claire.

Though this article didn't exactly cover a "hazard", I felt that it was important to be contributed into this blog for its environmental relevance.  As we all know, the east coast was affected by Superstorm Sandy recently, and there has been a fear of the possibility of an increase in the rat population, specifically in New York (http://www.weather.com/news/winter-crab-dredging-20121123).

Winter Crab Dredging

http://www.weather.com/news/winter-crab-dredging-20121123

 

Weather.com posted an article a couple of weeks ago (Nov. 23, 2012) titled, "Va. to Study Effects of Winter Crab Dredging," that caught my attention immediately.  I LOVE, and by LOVE, I mean I would drive to places out of my way to get to a store to purchase blue crabs (refer to image above).  I actually have a really good recipe for a Hmong-style Blue Crab dish that involves plenty of ginger, garlic, shrimp and crab pastes, and of course, oyster sauce for a wonderful concoction of seafood goodness (we'll stop it there before I am compelled to drive to the cities to get blue crabs).  Another reason why the article caught my attention was because as it is written in the title, I was interested in the effects of crab dredging.  I do purchase my blue crabs from the cities, but I am not exactly sure where the crabs were dredged.  Though I am uncertain whether the ones I purchase come from Virginia, this was an interesting article, nonetheless.

 

The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States and contains huge amounts (though less in recent years due to over-harvesting) of seafoods including blue crabs, oysters, clams, and fish.  State regulators have a moratorium on winter dredging for the protection of hibernating females.  Doing so will allow the next generation of crabs to be born in the spring.

 

Virginia is paying for a scientific study starting in December-March to determine how harmful dredging for blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay may be to the ecosystem and crab population.  The study will be overseen by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.  It will pay four watermen to dredge as many as 40 bushes of crabs a day that they can sell for a profit.  Officials and regulators will standby to see how the dredges tear up mud, sand, and underwater grasses.  John Bull, a spokesman for the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, said, "Everyone has an opinion of the winter dredge fishery, but we need facts, not opinions."  Money for the study is coming out of funds paid by watermen for their commercial fishing licenses.

 

I am curious to see the outcome of this study.  I've learned about the Chesapeake Bay from my Conservation of Environment course I took a couple of semesters ago.  From what I remember, it's lush aquatic ecosystem has depleted dramatically due to over-harvesting and pollution from urban areas upstream.  Because the area is such a hot spot for tourism and seafood production, I hope the study is able to come with a solution to conserve and sustain the bay.  It would be very unfortunate to lose such a gem.

Ice Storm Impacts and Damage

With the snowstorm that recently hit Eau Claire, WI, I ran into an old article I read on weather.com that talked about ice storm impacts and damage.  Though many of us know the implications of such storms (you know, living in Wisconsin and all), looking over a few of the effects can help us mitigate for safe driving and traveling purposes when the snow we received this past weekend turns to ice.

We often hear severe weather (hurricanes, tsunamis, etc.) and how vulnerable the areas experiencing such hazards can be.  Living in Wisconsin, we often forget that though we are considered to be in a "safe place" (away from hurricanes, tsunamis, occasionally tornadoes), other "smaller" environmental hazards are overlooked.  Ice storms can be one of the most dangerous and destructive winter weather events.  Ice accumulations caused by freezing rain can result in a travel nightmare.  On top of that, strong winds and heavier amounts of ice can damage trees and powerlines.  Here are some ice storm facts provided by weather.com that I found interesting:

• Ice can increase the weight of branches by 30 times.
• A 1/2" accumulation on power lines can add 500 pounds of extra weight.
• An ice storm in 2009 centered from northern Arkansas to the Ohio Valley knocked out power to 1.3 million.
• In 1998, an ice storm in northern New York and northern New England damaged millions of trees and caused $1.4 billion in damage. Accumulations were as much as three inches thick!

By using the scale of damage caused, ice storms are categorized into three types:

Nuisance Ice Storm:
- a nuisance event is usually one of 1/4" of ice or less
- lighter accumulations, but still considered dangerous for traveling

Disruptive Ice Storm:
- a disruptive ice storm is typically one of 1/4" to 1/2" of ice accumulation
- this amount of ice starts to damage trees and power lines

Crippling Ice Storm:
- widespread accumulations of over 1/2"
- possibility of severe tree damage and power outages lasting for days
- the most devastating storms contain ice accumulations of an inch or more

Looking at these facts and different ice storms gives us an understanding of the different levels of damage that they cause.  It can be difficult to mitigate for such events because living in Wisconsin is a risk in itself to be vulnerable to ice storms.  However, I am glad that the city does take some part in keeping its residents a little safer by salting the roads, forecasting the possibility of such storms, and etc.

Hurricane Sandy Damage Assessment

Subway systems in NYC were being cleared on October 31, 2012, after superstorm Hurricane Sandy swept through the northeastern coast of the U.S.  City buses were running regular routes on Wednesday, whereas subway service between Brooklyn and Manhattan remain suspended until the weekend.

October 29 -- risk assessment in Manhattan Subway Lines

October 30-31 -- restoring the city's subway system
After getting the water out of the subway system, it is important that the Metropolitan Transit Authority inspect, clean, and repair all electrical damage crucial to the safety of the train that were caused by Hurricane Sandy.

Power outtages were also occurring during the aftermath.  Traffic lights were not responsive on Tuesday afternoon.  Full power restoration is to be expected by Sunday.

Tunnels, trains, and airports will also need to be cleaned.  NYC bridges were re-opened on Tuesday afternoon, but the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel and Queens-Midtown Tunnel remained closed.  Once the tunnels are clear of water, they will need to be rid of sludge and other debris.

The superstorm also caused a lot sewage and stormwater mix to seep into wastewater treatment plants.  These plants are located in the lowest-lying areas of the city.  Once these plants get filled to capacity, water will begin to flow directly into New York's waterways and flood streets and buildings.

As mentioned above, flooding is a huge issue associated with Hurricane Sandy.  Not only are subway systems, tunnels, streets, and buildings are affected, water can also get into electrical equipment and cause power outtages.

Other damages were caused by fires and wind.  At least 111 homes were destroyed by a wind-fueled fire in Breezy Point, Queens.  Severe flooding in the area kept fire engines from putting out the blaze.

Hurricane Sandy Affects Retail Sales

New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut were among the states that operated lower than normal retail capacity.  Nearly $4 billion of retail sales--20 percent of the usual total--were knocked off due to Hurricane Sandy.  The region accounts for about 24 percent of retail sales nationwide, as said by MasterCard Advisors' SpendingPulse on Tuesday, November 6, 2012.  Nationwide, retailers usually generate about $78 billion in sales, but for the week affected by Hurricane Sandy, the sales fell short about $4 billion dollars.  The superstorm caused power outages, flooding, and many other problems leading shoppers to stay close to home.

I think it's interesting how powerful the weather is.  It's times like these that makes me remember how extremely small I am in the world.  A superstorm such as Hurricane Sandy has the ability to cause environmental damage (flooding), infrastractural damage, and can cause a loss in sales in the retail world.  Like I've said in a previous post, we are affected by weather so much more than we think we are.  It can affect the types of foods we eat, our decision to travel to certain places, and so much more.

Forecasters Keeping an Eye on Hurricane Sandy

http://news.yahoo.com/halloween-scare-hurricane-sandy-shows-similarities-perfect-storm-170646481.html

 

On October 24, 2012, Hurricane Sandy was reported to be just south of Jamaica traveling with 80 mile per hour winds.  Weather forecasters are comparing the weather system to a storm that hit the US in Halloween 1991, also known as the "perfect storm".  The historical storm resulted in widespread flooding as 30-foot waves raked seaside communities.  There were 13 deaths and millions of dollars worth of damage.  By the end of the week, forecasters expected the storm to be parallel to the southeast coast of the U.S., potentially affecting residents from Florida to northern New England.

 

Forecasters' computer models display Hurricane Sandy traveling in various directions.  Some models see the weather system getting caught up in a westerly airflow.  In this scenario, Sandy would become a maritime hazard.  Other models envision Sandy being drawn into the East Coast.  This would then result in very strong winds, a large amount of flooding in the coastal areas, and the possibility of snow in the mountains of western Pennsylvania.

 

I appreciate that forecasters are keeping an eye on this storm.  Not only are they looking out for potential damage, they have different scenarios to look at and prepare ahead of time the mitigation measures needed to take place.  The paradigm hazard at play here is engineering.  Storm tracking and using computer models to see what areas are vulnerable to Hurricane Sandy can help forecasters and residents alike prepare for the potential hazard.

Hurricane Rafael Leaves Bermuda

http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/16/world/americas/weather-rafael/index.html?hpt=wo_c2

 

In mid-October, about 600 homes lost power according to the Bermuda Electric Light Company.  The power outtage was due to heavy rains and strong winds caused by Hurricane Rafael.  With stronger winds than expected, Hurricane Rafael moved quickly through Bermuda, wind speeds reaching 51 mph.  On late Tuesday, October 16, 2012, the storm was about 135 miles east of the island, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.  The Category 1 hurricane later broke on October 18, 2012 as it headed northeast of Bermuda.

I think it is very interesting that before taking this course, I didn't know about the weather/potential hazard conditions of countries other than the United States (if at all).  Reading these articles for the blog has definitely been an eye-opening experience for me because it puts things in perspective.  600 homes in the United States losing power may not sound like so much, but on the island of Bermuda, it becomes a huge issue.

More funding needed for Missouri River repairs

www.weather.com/news/missouri-river-study-20121016

In mid-October, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a study that talked about the Missouri River's vulnerability to flooding in 2011.  The river rose to record levels due to the release of massive amounts of water upstream from reservoirs that had been filled with melting snow and heavy rains.  This release broke down levees, carved up gouges up to 50 feet deep, and dumped various tree limbs, pieces of children's swing sets, and other debris into farmers' fields.  About $400 million will be spent to fix some of the damage along the Missouri River.  There may be more funding needed; the agency is currently evaluating the amount of money needed for further repairs.

Numerous studies are being explored to determine what could have caused the flooding in 2011; some suggesting climate change being a factor.  Other studies examining the flood involve whether efforts to create shallow-water habitat to help wildlife contributed to levee damage.  The agency is working on adding more water gauges on the Missouri River.

I think flooding can definitely be mitigated for.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are (of course) taking an engineering approach to solve this issue.  Designing structure to help prevent damages (such as levees) and inserting more water gauges contribute to flood mitigation.

Drought raising food prices?

It seems drought has been a huge factor in increasing food commodity in the recent months.  The hot weather this summer left crops parched and livestock famished.  Restaurant owners, already struggling with fuel costs, are now feeling the pressure to increase prices on their menu.  Along with the rising food costs, smaller portions are expected to be served.  Prices will only continue to rise, and perhaps at a faster pace.

We discussed this very issue in my Geography of Food class.  Our food system depends on the weather, and the drought this year definitely impacted that negatively.  What we purchase and eat on a daily basis relates to what is available.  As mentioned above, the drought left crops parched and livestock famished.  Food may not be as abundant as it was in the previous years, thus increasing its prices.  Though we still have a huge amount of food choices at our disposal compared to other countries, the rising costs may be an issue to many families who struggle to afford healthy food.

Looking at this issue from a broader scale, we discussed in class (Environmental Hazards) whether or not drought causes famine.  I definitely believe that drought can cause famine, but only in less developed countries (LDC) where there are fewer resources and governmental aid.  For example, a more developed country (MDC) such as the United States did struggle with drought this summer, specifically in its agricultural heartland, but fortunately, we have enough food being imported in to help maintain our food system.  LDC's may not have that luxury.  No rain can lead to no harvest and leave the people malnourished, thus causing famine.

Tropics Watch

http://www.weather.com/news/weather-hurricanes/tropics-watch-hurricane-season-2012

Weather.com provides a wide range of weather news.  One of the interesting bits the site provides is a Tropics Watch that focuses in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific basins.  Images are provided by Senior Meteorologist Stu Ostro and Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross.  Known storms, hurricanes, or depressions in the basin will be labeled on the graphic.  This bit is an example of an engineering paradigm.  Scientific weather forecasting is essential because it provides a heads-up to those who can be effected.

Cyclones harming Australia's Great Barrier Reef

When thinking about cyclones, we often think about the detrimental effects it has on humans.  Though these effects should be well mitigated for, there are other environmental concerns that need our attention.  The Great Barrier Reef has lost more than half of its coral cover in the past 27 years due to storms, predatory starfish, and bleaching linked to climate change.  Since 1985, 34 intense tropical cyclones have been responsible for about 48 percent of damage to the Australian gem.  The loss of over half of initial cover is of great concern.  Thousands of species rely on coral for habitat purposes; the damage not only signifies a loss in the natural environment, but a driving force in displacing the sea life that lived there.

So then, what mitigation measures are needed to be taken in order to preserve our coral reefs?  Studies suggest mitigation of global warming and ocean acidification.  Improving water quality is key to controlling starfish outbreaks, responsible for 42 percent of coral damage.  Other problems that include agricultural run-off containing hazardous fertilizers must also be omitted in order to improve the natural waters.  As Australian Institute of Marine Sciences (AIMS) chief John Gunn said, "We can't stop the storms, but perhaps we can stop the starfish."

I'm glad AIMS is coming up with innovative ways to preserve the coral reefs.  Recovery is possible if we take mitigation measures seriously and watch what we are putting in our oceans.  The article seems to take this issue from an engineering paradigm stand-point.  Perhaps not to protect humans from cyclones, but towards the protection of Great Barrier Reef.  Like Gunn mentioned, stopping the storms and bleaching are out of reach, but we can still focus on effective, short-term efforts that can help control starfish outbreaks.

Alaska Flooding

http://www.weather.com/news/alaska-flood-damage-lost-revenue-20120925

Los Angeles Wildfire

http://www.weather.com/news/los-angeles-wildfire-contained-20120916
About 150 firefighters and a few water-dropping helicopters continued to battle a wildfire near the Getty Center on Saturday September 15, 2012.  The blaze which started on Friday at around 3:30 pm had burned through over 90 acres of mountain brush.  The art museum remained open on Saturday, with about 90 percent of the wildfire contained.  The Getty Center had been built with fire-resistant walls, a complex sprinkler system and a back-up resevoir.  Fortunately, there were no casualties.  The wildfire was a result extreme dry, hot weather in southern California.

I thought it was really interesting that I read this article because we just got done playing the online game for lab exercise 1.  I didn't select the wildfire game because I honestly am uncertain of the mitigation measures needed to be taken.  After reading the article, I gained an understanding the kind of area where wildfires are to erupt, how quickly a fire could spread, and ways to build buildings in order to protect against wildfires.  Though the Getty Center was well prepared for such an event, I'm sure there are other ways to improve.  I'd be interested in looking at the evacuation routes, for example.  If the building were surrounded entirely by a wildfire, how long will the sprinkler system last before the back-up resevoir is needed?  Where are the closest fire stations in the area and how many are there?  I think since we can't directly control the temperature, it's important to learn and understand ways to prevent any casualties from such environmental hazards/events.

Two Tornadoes in NYC

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/08/us/northeast-severe-weather/index.html?iref=allsearch

Tornado warnings and watches were issued on Saturday September 8, 2012 in New York City.  Winds up to 70 mph stirred areas of the city, including Breezy Point, Brooklyn, and Queens.  Two tornadoes were apparent, one of which churned 600 yards inland before breaking apart, forcing the fire department of Breezy Point to respond to overturned cars, broken windows, and roof damage.  Nine miles north of the previous reported tornado sighting, a second tornado was confirmed and touched down in Brooklyn.  The Brooklyn tornado had winds up to 110 mph and was categorized as a strong EF1.  Fortunately, there were no casualties in either cases.  Further watches and warnings were in effect across parts of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut until later that night.  Evidently, the severe weather postponed the U.S. Open men's and women's singles tennis matches in Flushing Meadows.

Films such as, "The Day After Tomorrow" and "NYC: Tornado Terror" had given us visualizations of natural disasters in our very own New York City.  I couldn't even imagine being in NYC on Saturday and not gripping onto the frame of my bed with blankets toppeling over me.  True, movies tend to exaggerate the nature of things, but in this case the weather proved that it was capable of doing just what we've imagined.