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.