Author Archive | StormSmart admin

Sunday: Scheduled StormSmart Coasts Site Maintenance [UPDATED]

Just a heads-up: we’ve got some exciting work to do on the StormSmart Coasts site. We think you’ll like the results, but in the meantime, we’re going to pull the site down for a few hours Sunday evening (Feb. 21st) and put our robots to work. If you visit then, there’s no telling what you […]

Impact of Climate Issues, Feb 24, Mobile [EVENT]

One last event for this week’s news: “Please join us for the Impact of Climate Issues on America’s Energy Coast hearing taking place at 9:00 am – 11:30 am on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at the Battle House in Mobile, AL. For more information or to register to attend this free event, please email Lisa […]

Hurricane Center Takes Storm Surge Out of Intensity Categories

NOAA’s National Weather Service has just announced that it will use a new hurricane scale this season called the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. The new scale keeps the same wind speed ranges as the original Saffir-Simpson Scale for each of the five hurricane categories, but no longer ties specific storm surge and flooding effects to […]

Building Resilience Workshop: Feb 25-27, New Orleans [EVENT]

This just across our desks: “The challenge of living with water is one shared by cities and communities around the world. Nowhere is this more true than in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region, where people live with a daily awareness of the threat, and opportunity, of water. Please join us at the Building […]

EPA Releases Water Quality Scorecard

Dealing with storms means dealing with stormwater. EPA has just released a new resource for local governments to help them do just that. In their words: “EPA has released a first-of-its-kind water quality scorecard designed to help communities in rural, suburban and urban settings incorporate green infrastructure practices to protect local water quality and improve […]

2010 Coastal Resilience Symposium: May 26, Houston [EVENT]

Just announced: the 2010 Coastal Resilience Symposium will be held at Rice University (Houston) on May 26th. From the event’s new webpage: “Hurricane Ike was not the “Big One” for the Houston area, but it gave us a much clearer picture of what we might expect should a large hurricane make landfall to our southwest. […]

Texas Appellate Court Finds No Taking in State's Open Beaches Act

From the always useful Ocean and Coastal Case Alert Newsletter: “A Texas appellate court struck down a challenge from several beachfront property owners to the Texas Open Beaches Act. The homeowners filed the action seeking a declaratory judgment for their right to repair, maintain, and access their houses, as well as for damages for the […]

Small-Town Cape Cod Also Losing Beaches VIDEO

Like California, eroding beaches on Cape Cod are threatening utilities, roads, and homes. (click on picture to watch video on NECN’s site). Erosion Concerns on Cape Cod (via NECN)

California Battles Disappearing Coastal Bluffs VIDEO

California struggles with bigger waves and falling homes. Click on the picture to head over to their site for the video. “Debate Emerges on How to Fight Coastal Erosion” via KGO-TV.

COMMENTARY: Seven Years Too Long for Updated Flood Maps

From today’s Press-Register Commentary (here in its entirety): FEMA CONTINUES to neglect coastal Alabama by dawdling on compiling new flood maps. After Hurricane Katrina and later Hurricane Rita devastated coastal Mississippi and Louisiana in 2005, the Federal Emergency Management Agency made updated flood maps a priority for those states. In the aftermath of historic storm […]