Consortium moves quickly to study resilience following Hurricane Ike

The purpose of this research is to compare the results from two different computer programs of flow analysesof two levees at Port Arthur, Texas where rising water of a flood from Hurricane Ike occurred on the levees. The first program (Program 1) is a two-dimensional (2-D) transient finite element program that couples the conservation of mass flow equation with accompanying hydraulic boundary conditions with the conservation of force equations with accompanying x and y displacement and force boundary conditions, thus yielding total head, x displacement, and y displacement as unknowns at each finite element node. The second program (Program 2) is a 2-D transient finite element program that considers only the conservation of mass flowequation with its accompanying hydraulic boundary conditions, yielding only total head as the unknown at each finite element node. Compressive stresses can be computed at the centroid of each finite element when using the coupled program. Programs 1 and 2 were parallelized for high performance computing to consider thousands of realisations of the material properties. Since a single realisation requires as much as one hour of computer time for certain levees, the large realisation computation is made possible by utilising HPC. This Monte Carlo type analysis was used to compute the probability of unsatisfactory performance for under seepage, through seepage, and uplift for the two levees. Respective hydrographs from the flood resulting from Hurricane Ike were applied to each levee. When comparing the computations from the two programs, the most significant result was the two programs yielded significantly different values in the computed results in the two clay levees considered in this research.

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Evaluation of Active Mortality Surveillance System Data for Monitoring Hurricane-Related Deaths—Texas, 2008

Prehospital and Disaster Medicine ◽

10.1017/s1049023x12000957 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 392-397 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Ekta Choudhary ◽

David F. Zane ◽

Crystal Beasley ◽

Russell Jones ◽

Araceli Rey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Surveillance System ◽

Vital Statistics ◽

Mortality Data ◽

System Evaluation ◽

Sufficient Information ◽

Hurricane Ike ◽

Case Definitions ◽

System Data ◽

Mortality Surveillance ◽

Surveillance System Evaluation

AbstractIntroductionThe Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) implemented an active mortality surveillance system to enumerate and characterize hurricane-related deaths during Hurricane Ike in 2008. This surveillance system used established guidelines and case definitions to categorize deaths as directly, indirectly, and possibly related to Hurricane Ike.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate Texas DSHS' active mortality surveillance system using US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) surveillance system evaluation guidelines.MethodsUsing CDC's Updated Guidelines for Surveillance System Evaluation, the active mortality surveillance system of the Texas DSHS was evaluated. Data from the active mortality surveillance system were compared with Texas vital statistics data for the same time period to estimate the completeness of reported disaster-related deaths.ResultsFrom September 8 through October 13, 2008, medical examiners (MEs) and Justices of the Peace (JPs) in 44 affected counties reported deaths daily by using a one-page, standardized mortality form. The active mortality surveillance system identified 74 hurricane-related deaths, whereas a review of vital statistics data revealed only four deaths that were hurricane-related. The average time of reporting a death by active mortality surveillance and vital statistics was 14 days and 16 days, respectively.ConclusionsTexas's active mortality surveillance system successfully identified hurricane-related deaths. Evaluation of the active mortality surveillance system suggested that it is necessary to collect detailed and representative mortality data during a hurricane because vital statistics do not capture sufficient information to identify whether deaths are hurricane-related. The results from this evaluation will help improve active mortality surveillance during hurricanes which, in turn, will enhance preparedness and response plans and identify public health interventions to reduce future hurricane-related mortality rates.Choudhary E, Zane DF, Beasley C, Jones R, Rey A, Noe RS, Martin C, Wolkin AF, Bayleyegn TM. Evaluation of active mortality surveillance system data for monitoring hurricane-related deaths, Texas, 2008. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012;27(4):1-6.

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Wave Measurements at Eastern Green Canyon During Hurricane Ike

Volume 6: Materials Technology; C.C. Mei Symposium on Wave Mechanics and Hydrodynamics; Offshore Measurement and Data Interpretation ◽

10.1115/omae2009-79802 ◽

2009 ◽

Author(s):

Oriol Rijken ◽

Adam Bangs

Keyword(s):

Wave Height ◽

Wave Energy ◽

Repetitive Sequences ◽

Wave Crest ◽

Hurricane Ike ◽

Wave Trough ◽

Wave Measurements ◽

Wave Event ◽

Measurement Location ◽

Insight Into

Wave measurements were obtained at an Eastern Green Canyon location during hurricane Ike in September 2009. The eye of the hurricane passed approximately 68 nautical miles to the South West of the measurement location. The significant wave height was above 30 ft for about 20 hours and above 40 ft for about 5.5 hours. The wave time series provide an insight into the wave field as the storm approaches and leaves the location. One of the interesting features observed was that there were repetitive sequences, where each sequence consisted of a period of increased wave energy followed by periods of reduced wave energy. Each sequence lasted approximately one hour. Measured wave crest, wave trough and wave height distributions are discussed. One unique wave event was observed. This event was characterized by a predictably-sized crest followed by a very deep trough.

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