DATE: September 03, 2008

CONTACT: Contact information listed below

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


Clemson University hurricane tip sheet and expert sources 2008

Updated Sept. 3, 2008

Hurricane season is at its peak. 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:

Health-care evacuation specialist Kevin Taaffe says the response to Hurricane Gustav worked in Louisiana for two main reasons: The general public heeded early warnings communicated by local authorities and evacuated prior to the storm’s arrival and the federal government stepped in early to make sure local systems worked to mobilize patients and other evacuees. He says in the past the lead role in the United States is left to localized governments such as the state, but no one wanted to see a replay of the Katrina debacle, where both local authorities and the federal government were unsure who was providing resources and when they would arrive. For more information, contact Taaffe 864-656-0291 or Susan Polowczuk in News Services 864-656-2063 or 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 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.

Wind and structural engineering testing:

Clemson University's Wind and Structural Engineering Research (WiSER) Facility 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 United States, 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 so 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.

Animal evacuations:

Hurricanes affect animals, too. Clemson University Livestock and Poultry Health veterinarians coordinate emergency response efforts for pets and livestock. Charlotte Krugler, Clemson animal emergency coordinator in Columbia, recommends that pet owners follow these guidelines:

  • Make sure your pet has identification: a microchip or owner's name on the tag on collar
  • Share your plan with at least one friend, neighbor or family member
  • Prepare a "to-go" kit for each animal with three days of food and water, medicines, pet ID information and medical records, especially proof of rabies vaccination
  • Containment: get cage or crate large enough that pet can turn around in. Have a litterbox and litter for cats
  • Evacuate horses early before voluntary evacuation orders are issued
  • Evacuate with your small household pets
  • If you must leave pets behind, do not leave them tied up. Leave food and water and a key with a neighbor or friend
  • During evacuation, do not leave pet in a parked car in the heat (even if the windows are partially open)
  • Explore options for temporary shelter for pets: family or friends outside the area, pet-friendly motels, boarding kennels or animal hospitals
  • Call county emergency management offices to locate temporary emergency evacuation pet shelters, if available

For more information contact Charlotte Krugler at 803-788-2260 ext. 286 or 843-709-2472, e-mail ckrugle@clemson.edu.

For hurricanes, it is wise to evacuate 48 hours beforehand with your horses, advises Clemson University equine specialist Chris Mortensen. Mortensen is working with Clemson Livestock and Poultry Health animal emergency response personnel to help horse owners to respond to storms.

Mortensen recommends:

  • Ensure your horses can be loaded safely into a trailer
  • Know the evacuation route you will take
  • Bring identification of your animal (registration papers, photographs, emergency contact information
  • Leave early to avoid traffic and high winds.

There are many sites in South Carolina that are prepared to receive and house horses. They can be found at the Department of South Carolina Department of Agriculture and Clemson Web sites:
http://agriculture.sc.gov/content.aspx?ContentID=702 and http://www.clemson.edu/LPH/emergencypreparedness.htm.

If you plan to evacuate your horses to one of these sites, call ahead to ensure they have stalls for your animals and bring proof of a negative Coggins test. Also plan to bring feed for your animals.

If you do not evacuate your animals, take steps to ensure if your animals do not get loose from your property. After many hurricanes, when horses get free, the biggest challenge is reuniting horses with their owners. Ensure you and your animals have identification. Carry registration papers, photographs, Coggins papers or other identification that proves ownership. Ensure horses are marked in a way that identifies them as yours. Tips include:

  • Include on a halter (recommend leather, easier to break if horse gets caught) your name, horse's name and two telephone numbers for you or a family members
  • Weave a waterproof luggage tag into the mane or tail (do not attach it to the tail base where it can cause irritation)
  • Spray paint your name and number on the horse’s side

For more information contact Chris Mortensen at 864-656-9428, 979-219-1448 or cmorten@clemson.edu.

Chemical storage:

Secure all your chemicals in waterproof containers or dry-storage areas, advises Robert G. (Bob) Bellinger, Clemson extension pesticide coordinator. Hurricanes and other violent storms can cause disastrous water-pollution problems when farm and garden chemicals get washed into in stormwater runoff. Fertilizers, pesticides, solvents, fuels and other hazardous chemicals need to be stored in secure location. Bellinger recommends:

  • Raise chemicals off the floor high enough to keep them dry.
  • Place open and perishable containers in tightly sealed plastic bags or containers.
  • Identify chemical containers with a waterproof marker and preserve labeling instructions.
  • Secure and identify buildings used for chemical storage.
  • Do not put chemicals in the same location with animals or animal feed.

Notify the Department of Pesticide Regulation if you have pesticides damaged by the storm that may pose an environmental risk. Contact numbers are:

  • Main office at Clemson University: 864-646-2150
  • Columbia: 803-736-7680
  • Florence: 843-667-1393
  • Conway: 843-365-7341
  • Charleston: 843-225-7062 or 7065

For more information contact Bob Bellinger at 864-656-5042 or e-mail: bbllngr@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 him 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 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 175mph 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 140mph 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 200mph 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 damaged coastal areas may look for opportunity among the ruins. 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 864-656-1587 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.


When temporary housing is permanent:

Designers Doug Hecker and Martha Skinner have spent time in New Orleans with their students building 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.

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