DATE: May 26, 2008

CONTACT: Listed below

WRITER: Susan Polowczuk, (864) 656-2063
spolowc@clemson.edu

Clemson University hurricane tip sheet and expert sources 2008

Weather experts predict an average to above-average Atlantic basin tropical hurricane season in 2008. Here are some Clemson University experts who can help you with your coverage.

You also can watch a video about the hurricane research.

Evacuation planning:

Evacuating hospitals and health-care facilities during Hurricane Katrina proved to be a disaster. To avoid a repeat, industrial engineer Kevin Taaffe coordinates with many coastal hospitals in Florida and South Carolina to develop model framework to assign limited transportation, shelter and staffing resources during a hurricane evacuation. He also investigates alternate exit or travel routes for special needs populations, which would reduce the likelihood of these groups competing with general population traffic and incurring long roadway delays. For more information, contact Taaffe (864) 656-0291, taaffe@clemson.edu, or Susan Polowczuk in News Services (864) 656-2063, spolowc@clemson.edu.

Intelligent transportation systems use video cameras, traffic sensors, message signs and advisory radios to monitor and control highway traffic in real time with the aid of wired and wireless communication infrastructure. A single failure can cause a domino effect that results in chaos. Public transportation agencies have a mission to ensure that communication infrastructure not only is in place but reliable during such extreme weather conditions as hurricanes and floods to manage evacuations in real time and coordinate with other agencies. To meet this requirement, new-generation communication alternatives could be the answer to keeping systems up and running efficiently without the risk of failure during emergencies. For more information contact Ronnie Chowdhury (864) 656-3313, mac@clemson.edu, or Susan Polowczuk in News Services (864) 656-2063, spolowc@clemson.edu.

When temporary housing is permanent:

Designers Doug Hecker and Martha Skinner will spend part of the summer in New Orleans with their students to build a prototype of "dry-in house," their proposed alternative to the FEMA trailer. The concept of dry-in house is to get the homeowner back on his own property in a permanent structure. Their idea of a "mass-customizable" house capitalizes on existing technology to put people back in a structure that will be their permanent home. The structure is built to dry-in phase for about the same cost as a FEMA trailer, then it's up to the homeowner to provide the finishing touches. For information contact Martha Skinner, marthas@clemson.edu, Doug Hecker, dhecker@clemson.edu, or Ross Norton in News Services (864) 656-2061, rnorton@clemson.edu.

Wind and structural engineering testing:

Clemson University's Wind and Structural Engineering Research (WiSER) Facility http://www.clemson.edu/ce/pdf/wiser.pdf is one of the nation's top laboratories for the study of wind effects on structures. Current research compares wind-tunnel data with full-scale measurements of wind loads on residential structures in suburban areas collected during recent hurricanes. Clemson researchers use the facility to better understand the effects of wind on structural and building envelope systems and to develop low-cost, off-the-shelf solutions to protect homes, essential facilities and schools from severe wind damage or failures. Missile impact tests and standard pressure tests are used to establish the ultimate failure capacities of light-frame wood and light-gauge metal construction, masonry and commercial roofing systems. For technical information, contact Scott Schiff, director of the WiSER Facility at (864) 656-0456 or scott.schiff@ces.clemson.edu. For general information, call News Services' Susan Polowczuk at (864) 656-2061 or e-mail spolowc@clemson.edu for assistance.


Rebuilding:

Given that Katrina, Rita and Wilma will not be the last hurricanes to strike the area, homeowners should consider structural upgrades to improve the performance of their homes, says Clemson civil engineering professor Scott Schiff. He says many insurance policies are written such that the available funds will allow the homeowner to rebuild only as it was. Consequently, if it failed once, it will fail again in another severe storm. Homeowners need to be creative with their available funds so that they can break the cycle. Schiff says a better understanding of the windfield, assessment of past engineering, quality of construction and enforcement of the building codes can lead to better construction. Contact Schiff at (864) 656-0456 or e-mail scott.schiff@ces.clemson.edu or News Services' Susan Polowczuk at (864) 656-2061 or spolowc@clemson.edu

.

Public policy:

Clemson structural engineer professor Scott Schiff says coastal communities from Texas through Massachusetts are at risk for catastrophic hurricane events. He warns, "We must learn to manage risks by reducing the vulnerability of structures and improving the performance of homes, shelters, hospitals and critical facilities." Through the Clemson Wind and Structural Engineering Research Facility http://www.clemson.edu/ce/pdf/wiser.pdf, Schiff conducts fundamental research into these areas in an effort to change public-policy approaches to dealing with hurricanes. Contact Schiff at (864) 656-0456 or e-mail scott.schiff@ces.clemson.edu or News Services' Susan Polowczuk at (864) 656-2061 or e-mail spolowc@clemson.edu.

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink:

Clemson University environmental toxicologist John Rodgers is a nationally known expert on wetlands and toxic effluent in waterways. He has constructed numerous artificial wetlands for industries that produce water pollution that must be cleaned up. One of his projects was just west of New Orleans: a Shell Oil refinery. Rodgers has met with the EPA and other federal officials to discuss the problems of toxic chemicals in floodwaters. The Savannah River Site has one of Rodger's largest artificial wetlands and shows how to build new wetlands to protect coastlines and reclaim polluted waterways. Rodgers is in Clemson's department of forestry and natural resources. Contact Rodgers at his office (864) 656-0492, (864) 646-2960 or cell (864) 650-0210, or e-mail jrodger@clemson.edu. Contact News Services' Peter Kent at (864) 650-7899 or e-mail pkent@clemson.edu
.

Too much saltwater is a bad thing:

Coastal wetland forests can stand up to hurricane-strength winds, but storm surges can drown them in saltwater. Clemson University researchers are looking at data to learn about the effects of excess saltwater on coastal ecosystems. For more information, contact forestry scientist William Conner at (843) 546-6323 or e-mail wconner@clemson.edu. Contact News Services' Peter Kent at (864) 650-7899 or e-mail pkent@clemson.edu for assistance.

Pesty issues:

Hurricanes and similar events, including tornadoes, high winds and floods, can wreak havoc on agricultural operations. In addition to the disastrous effects, severe weather events can cause both dollar loss and environmental pollution from agricultural chemicals. Fertilizers, pesticides, solvents, fuels and other agricultural chemicals can be lost, contaminating the surrounding environment and environments downstream of storage and use areas. For more information, contact Bob Bellinger, extension pesticide coordinator at (864) 656-5042 or e-mail bbllngr@clemson.edu. Contact News Services' Peter Kent at (864) 650-7899 or e-mail pkent@clemson.edu.

What are the chances?

According to mathematical sciences professor Robert Lund, Hurricane Katrina was about a 10-year storm at its time of landfall. He says, "Given the 175 mph wind speed Katrina reached in the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico, it would have been very unfortunate if it came ashore anywhere close to this strength. At its strongest — a central pressure of 902 millibars — Katrina had the fourth lowest pressure recorded for an Atlantic Basin cyclone. Meteorologists regard pressure as a better indicator of overall storm strength than wind speed. Because of this low pressure, Katrina was a little stronger than its 140 mph landfall windspeed observed at the mouth of the Mississippi. It is worth noting that Camille, the queen bee of U.S. hurricanes, came ashore in 1969 very close to the same area, with about 200 mph winds." On what to expect this year, Lund says warm sea surface temperatures in the North Atlantic suggest that we are in a period of heightened hurricane activity. For more information, contact Lund at (864) 656-0861 or e-mail lund@clemson.edu or News Services’ Susan Polowczuk (864) 656-2061 or e-mail spolowc@clemson.edu.

Opportunities can come from the rubble of natural disaster:

Clemson professor Umit Yilmaz took his planning and landscape architecture students to a town near San Salvador that was destroyed when an earthquake rocked El Salvador in 2001. He and his students devised a practical plan for the town leaders in their bid to rebuild the town on limited resources. Contact Yilmaz at (864) 656-7349 or e-mail uyilmaz@clemson.edu to find out how some of the Gulf Coast areas may look for opportunity among the ruins. Yilmaz is an associate professor of planning and landscape architecture at Clemson University. Contact News Services' Ross Norton at (864) 656-2061 or e-mail rnorton@clemson.edu
.


Lessons learned:

Are the communities along the Eastern Seaboard better suited to withstand a monster hurricane? Were lessons learned during Hugo's 1989 sprint eventually forgotten? Planning and landscape architecture associate professor Grant Cunningham studies coastal development, resource policy and community development. Cunningham can be reached at (864) 656-4456 or cunninm@clemson.edu. Contact News Services' Ross Norton at (864) 656-2061 or e-mail rnorton@clemson.edu.

Communication is key to recovery of the tourism industry:

Clemson University research has found that open communication is key to attracting potential tourists after a disaster. According to a study led by professor of parks, recreation and tourism management Sheila Backman, a little truth can go a long way. For more information on how to build a communications plan aimed at recovering tourism, contact Backman at (864) 656-5236 or e-mail back@clemson.edu. Contact News Services' Ross Norton at (864) 656-2061 or e-mail rnorton@clemson.edu.


END

Editors, news directors: Clemson University has studios and uplink capabilities for broadcast interviews.