Gustav updates: DIY data, RNC recycled, energy infrastructure, rehabbing wetlands
Image: a work created by Banksy in New Orleans last week, photographed by Jonno.
(1) Jim Graham wipes the playa dust off his keyboard and types,
John Graham (no relation) has created .kml and .kmz files integrating satellite imagery of Gustaz, updating every 15 minutes. Files are available at: (one) (two)(2) Jeff Masters at Weather Underground blogs:
The main concern from Gustav is the storm surge. NHC is still predicting a 10-14 foot storm surge along the east side of New Orleans (Figure 2). This storm surge is characteristic of a Category 3 hurricane, providing a significant test of New Orleans' rebuilt levee system. Recent tide gauge readings from the east side of New Orleans show that a storm surge in excess of 7 feet has already occurred in Lake Borgne (Figure 1).
(3) BB reader Quincy Webster points us to an infographic modeling estimated Gustav damage to energy infrastructure in the Gulf. "Graphic below is damage models based on LBAR hurricane forecast track, key is below. Numerical damage estimates are below the fold for oil and natural gas shut-in and damage."
This pachube url has a little google map showing the current reported location of the hurricane and its wind speed and pressure (and, if you're prone to making things electronic, via Pachube also the data that can be used with Arduinos to make a remote monitor, device, whatever; or embed the 24hour windspeed graph in webpages).
(5) Video: John McCain pops a lulz on FEMA, Katrina, and Arabian Horses, back in 2005. (via Siege)
(6) In the New York Times, a profile of Mark Schleifstein, the 24-year veteran of NOLA's Times-Picayune , known as "the man who predicted the flood." He believes restoring natural wetlands and indigenous ecosystems in the Gulf region is the only way to prevent recurring catastrophic damage.
“If the federal government ever awakens to the disastrous consequences of inaction on that front — the importance of coastal restoration and the rebuilding of barrier islands — Mark will deserve much of the credit,” [Times-Picayune editor Jim] Amoss said. In the aftermath of Katrina, Mr. Schleifstein and a team of reporters investigated the failure of the levees surrounding New Orleans. He also reported on the rebuilding of the levee system and the efforts to replenish the area’s wetlands and coastlines. His most recent series, “Last Chance,” published in March 2007, outlined why scientists believe the next decade is crucial to the wetlands restoration process.Here is Shleifstein's blog at the Times-Picayune -- he's been posting items daily over the last few days.
(7) Here are two frequently-updated Twitter feeds from folks on the ground on NOLA: @raynola = Ray Shea, and @gustavreporter, Chicago Tribune reporters who are there to cover the storm and its aftermath. (thanks @unapologetic)
(8) The New Orleans metbloggers are at it again today, with posts about "staying in town, CNN panic and levees getting topped."
Previously on Boing Boing:
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The GOP should have a telethon to fund condom shipments to Alaska.
There's evidence of a massive shortage up there.
Xn's "pdts" r ll vr thr dys ld... wtf?
"The GOP should have a telethon to fund condom shipments to Alaska.
There's evidence of a massive shortage up there."
PWND! LAWLZ!
We just had an incredible rainstorm here (Berlin in Germany), and there was a power outage in my block and parts of neighboring blocks for around 3 hours.
I don't want to imagine what it must have been like in New Orleans after Kathrina; i just sincerely hope for the people living there that, by some way, they will be led around this.
Ray Shea (ie Ray In New Orleans, formerly Ray In Austin) did a spectacular job blogging the story of hurricane Katrina as it happened. I'm finding his coverage of gustav, at least in the early hours, to be far better than what I was finding on network teevee.
He's the one to follow.
But seriously . . . even if Gustav turns out to be relatively weak, a lot of folks are going to be displaced, a lot of homes are going to need repairs, and a lot of refrigerators are going to need to be restocked.
Give generously:
http://www.redcross.org/
If you don't like the Red Cross, feel free to suggest and post links to other relief agencies.
Any blogs for the rest of Louisiana? It looks like New Orleans is getting the least of it compared to Houma/Morgan City/Baton Rouge/Lafayette.
If you want to contrast the obscene dramatization of CNN to some level headed reporting go to the WWLTV site. Those people live there and you can feel that they care for personal reasons rather than being intent on enhancing their own star status.
I made a Google Trends comparison of googlers' interest in natural disasters of 5 types on my blog. Have a look!
FDEBLAUWE, that's a really interesting experiment.
@IAMINNOCENT, am tuned in and what a difference a lack of drama queens makes.
"A protest near the site of the Republican National Convention gave way to violence Monday as demonstrators attacked members of the Connecticut delegation, smashed windows, slashed car tires and threw bottles during an anti-war march, St. Paul police said."
You're welcome, Xeni! By the way, I just improved the blog design and, more importantly, the sharpness of the graphs. Still getting used to this blogging :-)
"Wetlands restoration"? But Sean Hannity told me it was the environmentalists that caused the Katrina disaster?!!