Typhoon Hits the Philippines

 

More than 280 people have been killed in the Philippines after typhoon Bopha made contact.  The estimated total is not official yet as search and rescue teams are still trying to find any missing people.  The crazy thing about this disaster was a combination of mass movements, floods, strong winds, and communication systems that were down.  When you look at the housing infrastructures you have houses that could possibly withstand this type of typhoon and then you have shelters that have thin sheets of steel as a roof and decaying wood as frames.  Strong winds possibly makes these type of materials giant pieces of shrapnel.  Now pile on the excessive rain accumulation between the different types of soils and houses that were built next to hillsides that had a steep incline.  Mudslides adds the potential threat of trapping people under the mud, destruction of facilities such has emergency buildings, and blocking major roads.  Again, from a Swiss cheese point of view, I would consider that all the holes lined up in this disaster.  From strong winds and exessive rain triggering mudslides to victims holding onto their lives while emergency teams are trying to establish communication systems.  Not to blame that the emergency teams aren't doing their job, but had there been a better plan, maybe there wouldn't be as many casualties. 

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/05/typhoon-bopha-philippines_n_2241984.html

Deepwater Horizon: BIG EXPLOSIONS BIG FINES

Picture by: Justin E. Stumberg

It has almost been two years since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, BP is expected to plead guilty and pay a record fine of $4.5 billion over six years.  The fine that BP faces will exceed the fine that the pharmaceutical drug maker Pfizer was charged ($1 billion).  The National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and National Academy of Science (NAS) are expected to be one of the many recipients that will be on the receiving end of this case.  BP will also face 11 criminal charges from the 11 lives that were lost.

During the spill, BP reported a loss of $17 billion, but over the nine quarters BP has reported a profit of $43 billion.  For the amount of oil spilled, lives lost, and a whole lot of conspiracy behind covering each other and themselves will come to justice today.  Having the pressure to contain the spill may be a headache, but had BP not bypass inspections and take shortcuts, maybe there would be no historic oil spill.  The process that BP took clearly lined them up for failure; Swiss cheese, what could go wrong went wrong.

http://money.cnn.com/2012/11/15/news/bp-oil-spill-settlement/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/11/15/165190956/bp-expected-to-plead-guilty-pay-record-fine-in-gulf-oil-spill-criminal-case

Gas Not Paid At the Pump In California, "AB32"

Picture provided by:  David McNew/Getty Images

For the benefit of the world, California will be implementing and executing a new state climate law known as "AB32" as soon as Jan. 1, 2013.  This new state law will govern how much green house gases can be emitted by businesses by issuing permits; some free, but additional permits will go up for auction if businesses need to cover their emission of green house gases.  The prices of these permits have not been released, but as soon as this law is in effect, businesses will have another expense to cough up if they want their businesses to stay alive.

Some businesses have already put their foot inside by adopting more energy efficient technology into their businesses.  These include using solar panels, energy efficient lights, bigger windows that open, decrease the usage of machinery, and the usage of less water.  The University of California known to have a big power plant to supply power for dorms, labs, and hospitals says that they will need to purchase these permits due to their high output of green house gases.  This means that the state will be able to generate some sort of revenue while limiting green houses gases. 

The uncertainty that will erupt from this law could have businesses leaving the state and relocating to areas where there are less strict law governing carbon emissions.  This could possibly mean that many businesses, if not already, will relocate into countries such as Mexico. 

http://www.npr.org/2012/11/13/165052181/calif-to-begin-rationing-greenhouse-gas-emissions

Sandy! Sandy! Sandy!

Picture by:  Damon Dahlen



The effects of Sandy are pouring in and in the form of snow.  With strong winds, rain, snow, and known flooding to occur, individuals in the north eastern part of the United States were hit again.  Some areas in Massachusetts got up to 8 inches of snow while some area in New Jersey got up to a foot of snow.  As the east coast and the nation are slowly mopping and cleaning the aftermath of the disaster, the end to cleaning it up seems out of reach at the moment. 

The destruction to so many homes has left people in a place of homelessness. Some individuals are still left without power with an estimate that 695,700 homes and businesses in the New York and New Jersey region are without power or lack electricity.  There as also been an estimate that a total of 1700 air flights have been cancelled.  Through this all, Sandy has robbed and affected the American economy even after the footprints that it has left were in the process of forming into a fossil, history of the past.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/08/noreaster-2012-nj-ny-superstorm-sandy_n_2091371.html?ir=Green

Sandy's Economic Effects

The effects from super storm Sandy has created a bull whip effect for many industries across the nation and even across seas.  Industries have been put to a halt and shut down due to the conditions that have resulted. This places current employees at a risk of possibly not having a job in the future, delay in receiving important information, and lost of time.  There has been an estimated lost of 30-50 billion dollars in economic activity according to IHS Global Insight.  A rough estimate of infrastructure damages totaled 20 billion dollars, but it is very difficult to actually put a price on Sandy's damages at this point and will require months or even years to get to the actual number.  It is tough to see the country go through a disaster at this time because of how the slow the economic recovery phase has been during the past decade.

Although Sandy has damaged and destroyed many homes the opportunity for new jobs has also been created.  The construction industry will probably be projected to have an increase in productivity and increase in employment opportunities.  Private companies will probably hired for cleanup. 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/31/economists-sandy-damage-us-recovery

Sandy, A Lot Like Uh-Hi-Oh!

In the heat of the 2012 political elections in the United States, Hurricane Sandy's destructive force is also a tool of leverage.  After heavy rainfall and strong winds damage the East Coast, President Obama's public speech to warn that the storm is not yet over and to follow instructions may just have provided him a hunch in the presidential race.  Preparations were handled professionally and effectively prior to the storms contact.  With ensuring that a repeat of Katrina will not happen again has allowed Obama to get into his shining armor and save a disaster from becoming a chaotic disaster.  This has become an advantage for the Obama campaign as they high step into the end zone pounding their way through with every power possible to find a solution for Sandy's destruction. 

So, is FEMA going to get shut down? No, not yet at least.  This once hot topic in the Presidential Debate has been cooled by Sandy and Ohio may not be the best swinger this year.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/30/obama-red-cross-hurricane-sandy_n_2044111.html



 

Satellite image of Jelawat. Provided by AccuWeather.com

 

 



Japan is still in a mode of reconstruction after what seems like endless disasters.  On Sunday, mainland Japan was hit with yet another disaster; this time a typhoon.  Typhoon Jelawat had winds gusting up to 126 kilometers per hour with an expected 500 millimeters of rain over 24 hours.  There is a report of 104 people being injured and 158,000 homes are without power.  Prior to this, Okinawa was hit on Saturday.  As a result 50 people were injured there and 300,000 homes were without power.  Regions in the Pacific at this time are facing multiple tropical storms that have triggered floods in countries that have been hit. 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444138104578027861153031402.html?mod=googlenews_wsj