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Personal Account of Flooding from Hurricane Isaac in Ascension Parish, Louisiana
Hurricane Isaac hit my home state of Louisiana (and my home parish of Ascension) on August 29th & 30th. Being an emergency planner in IEM’s Response and Recovery division, I am keenly interested, both professionally and personally, in how communities respond to storms like Hurricane Isaac. Even though Ascension Parish has faced massive flooding and […]
Rescue and Storm Surge Video from Hurricane Isaac – Social Media Resources, Part 5
Isaac has been downgraded to a tropical storm but is still dropping heavy rains on the Gulf states and cause many to lose power. Homes were flooded this morning in Plaquemines Parish as the water topped the 12-foot levee. Below are links to video and photos of the storm surge and rescues that occurred today. […]
Personal Accounts of Hurricane Isaac as He Lashes the Louisiana & Mississippi Coast – Social Media Resources, Part 4
Hurricane Isaac made landfall during the overnight hours. At 9am CDT this morning, Isaac showed some weakening, but is still a Category 1 hurricane. It is moving slowly at 6mph and is center about 40 miles southwest of New Orleans. It is the threat of dangerous storm surges and flooding that has officials most concerned. […]
Hurricane Isaac to Make Gulf Coast Landfall Tonight – Social Media Resources, Part 3
Hurricane Isaac is expected to make landfall as a category 1 hurricane in a few short hours this evening on the Gulf Coast. IEM’s Disaster Social Network has been collecting site and social media accounts to watch as the storms hits during the overnight hours. Please note the webcams that have been set up to […]
Economic Losses from Hurricane Isaac Could Reach $21 Billion
Hurricane Isaac is currently predicted to make landfall near New Orleans on or just before the 7-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. However, global security consulting firm IEM estimates the results will be far different. Katrina was a Category 3 storm that caused $108 billion in damages (the costliest ever in terms of dollars) and about […]
A Comparison of Hurricane Isaac’s Track and Historical Hurricane Katrina Track
As Hurricane Isaac approaches the Gulf Coast today, the track Isaac is taking is eerily similar to the track Katrina took seven years ago at this same time. Although Isaac is not nearly as strong or expected to cause the extent of damage that Katrina did, many Gulf Coast cities are ordering evacuations. I wanted […]
Isaac Reaches Hurricane Status – Social Media Resources Part 2
As of 11:20am CDT Tropical Storm Isaac has achieved hurricane status with wind speeds of up to 75 mph or more. IEM has collected the most relevant social media accounts of the approaching storm from this morning’s and last night’s postings. We will continue to send updates as Isaac makes landfall this evening. Links to […]
Tropical Storm Isaac Social Media Resources – Disaster Social Network
Tropical Storm Isaac is expected to become a Category 1 or 2 hurricane before reaching the northern Gulf Coast late Tuesday evening (August 28). As the storm drenches Florida and approaches the Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama coasts, IEM is monitoring social media accounts of the disaster for the most current and relevant information available. Links […]
Chemical Economic Benefits Have Inherent Chemical Transportation Risks
This week’s Hazmat incident involving a crash between an isobutene tanker and another motor carrier is a reminder of risks involved with daily chemical transportation. Isobutylene (synonym for isobutene) when blended with gasoline is used to make high octane aviation gasoline blends. First responders and emergency managers should be commended for their efforts to close […]
Evacuations and the Isobutene Event in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
During yesterday’s isobutene incident in Baton Rouge, officials issued an evacuation order for people in the immediate area. How did they decide how large an area to evacuate? In most cases, emergency responders refer to the Emergency Response Guidebook, or ERG, which provides quick information about how to respond. For a small spill or leak […]