G'day everyone
I would be interested to get feedback from people on the need/necessity of
wholesale evacuation of a major city such as New Orleans, in the forefront
of a major hurricane developing such as Gustav as it approaches the
Texas/Louisiana coastline.
1. It seems that most deaths in hurricanes/cyclones/typhoons are caused by
storm surges (rather than high winds, rain & flooding) - witness the major
Bangladesh cyclones of the 1970's and early 1990'sd, and the May 2008
Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar. In Hurranicane Katrina, the majority of the
deaths in New Orleans seems to be have been caused by drowning due to the
levee banks being breached.
2. Whilst it does make sense that low-lying areas of New Orleans should be
evacuated (especially those in threat of flooding due to new breaches of the
Harvey Canal levee floodwalls being breached again), does this require the
whole city needing evacuation ? With massive evacuation there does appear
then to be a risk of people being caught in vulnerable/exposed positions in
snarled up traffic jams should these eventuate. As in bushfires, those most
at risk are people caught on the roads trying to flee the incoming
fire-front...
4. Would it therefore make sense to have targeted evacuation in New
Orleans, with other people taking shelter in city storm shelters (including
the Superdome & Convention Centre, presuming these are well managed ??)
Would be interested in your thoughts ??
Cheers
Chris
Chris Piper, Director TorqAid
PO Box 13, Torquay
VIC 3228, Australia
Tel: 041 2497317 (within Australia) or
+ 61 41 2497317 (from overseas)
Email: [log in to unmask] and [log in to unmask]
Website: http://www.torqaid.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Natural hazards and disasters
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Arthur
Rabjohn CEM
Sent: Thursday, 24 July 2008 1:06 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Introducing IAEM to this List
Ladies & Gentlemen,
I would like you to consider joining the International Association of
Emergency
Managers. IAEM has in the last five years developed into a truly
international
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Arthur Rabjohn
President - IAEM Europa
www.iaem-europa.eu
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