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AFTER THE STORM: HURRICANE KATRINA TIP
SHEET FROM UH
Following one of the most catastrophic disasters in U.S. history,
many legal, health, economic and social questions are being raised.
As you consider story ideas about Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath,
keep in mind these resources from the University of Houston. For
more information, or if you are unable to reach a professor, give
us a call at 713-743-8153.
The Financial Storm After the Hurricanes
Following Katrina and Rita, a third storm, which will prove
as financially devastating to Gulf Coast residents, looms. Howard
Karger, author of “Shortchanged: Life and Debt in the Fringe
Economy,” predicts a credit crisis of major proportions and
the need for debt and federal bankruptcy reform. “Hurricane
survivors face a daunting-enough future without further impeding
their efforts to rebuild their lives by imposing punitive bankruptcy
reform coupled with the inflexibility of credit card companies and
other lenders,” says Karger. The UH professor of social work
can be reached at 713-743-8135 or hkarger@uh.edu.
Engineering Better Structural
Outcomes After Hurricanes
Cumaraswamy Vipulanandan, chair of civil and environmental engineering,
deals with the structural damages to bridges and other concrete
structures due to long exposures to water and other corrosives.
In his lab, he also is developing chemicals to clean toxic waste
sites. Vipulanandan can be reached at 713-743-4278 or cvipulanandan@uh.edu.
Bill Dupre, associate professor of geosciences at UH, also can address
large oil spills resulting from the erosion and rupture of pipelines
and can be reached at 713-743-3425 or wdupre@uh.edu.
How Did the Oil Rigs Fare?
Su Su Wang, Distinguished University Professor of Mechanical Engineering
and director of the Composites Engineering and Applications Center
at UH, focuses on new applications for polymeric composites in offshore
and onshore operations where traditional materials have performance
and economic limitations. He can talk about the damage to oil rigs
resulting from Hurricane Katrina and what research is being done
for the future betterment of these rigs. Wang can be reached at
713-743-4515 or sswang@uh.edu.
Wade in the Water
Mud tracks from the toxic swamp that is New Orleans eventually may
lead to courtroom. Victor Flatt, professor of law and A.L. O’Quinn
Chair in Environmental Law, can discuss environmental law actions
that may surface following such a disaster and the recourses that
residents and the city may have as they struggle to find a life
that is back to normal. He can be reached at 713-743-2155 or vflatt@uh.edu.
Water, Water Everywhere and Not a Drop to Drink
The toxic flood waters in New Orleans hold many murky secrets. UH’s
team of civil and environmental engineers can shed plenty of light
on what may lay deep within and how to deal with it. Flooding experts
can discuss the environmental effects, dealing with contaminated
water and cleaning the drinking water, as well as address possible
toxins in the water and the natural recovery of the environment
from contamination. For more information, call or e-mail Lisa Merkl
at 713-743-8192 or lkmerkl@uh.edu
to be connected with the appropriate expert.
Health Law and Order
The liabilities of volunteer physicians and nurses, quarantines
in emergency shelters, evacuees’ eligibility in the Texas
Medicaid program, and hospitals turning evacuees away because of
overcrowding are among some of the many legal issues in healthcare
that Richard Saver can discuss. He is an assistant professor of
law and affiliated with the Health, Law and Policy Institute. Saver
can be reached at 713-743-2263 or rsaver@central.uh.edu.
Building Blocks of New Orleans
New Orleans architecture reflected not only its own flair, but also
its diverse history. UH Architecture professor and Crescent City
native Thomas Colbert speaks about the history and design of the
city’s architecture, and of the historic loss. Reach him at
713-743-2380 or tcolbert@uh.edu.
The Economics of Disaster Relief
Tom DeGregori, professor of economics, has written the article “The
Do’s and Don’ts of Disaster Relief,” which can
be found at: http://www.acsh.org/factsfears/newsID.630/news_detail.asp.
He is an economic development expert, and has written about and
been an advisor on disaster relief. DeGregori can be reached at
713-743-3838 or trdegreg@uh.edu.
Recouping Your Losses
“It’s important to protect property from further damage,
but those affected must also preserve the damages,” says Dan
Jones, who has extensive experience in insurance and expertise in
risk management. Jones is an executive professor in the Bauer College
of Business, and he teaches classes in international risk and insurance,
risk management, insurance operations and regulations, and energy
insurance and risk management. Jones can be reached at djones@uh.edu.
Bet on a Safe Port
The billion dollar casino industry of the southern Gulf Coast will
have to seek safe port until the industry can recover. James Wortman,
director of the Gaming Education and Research Institute, addresses
issues regarding the redevelopment of the industry along the Gulf
Coast and the areas which stand to flourish in the meantime. Reach
him at 713-743-2444 or jwortman@uh.edu
Owning the New Orleans
The redevelopment of New Orleans neighborhoods will require not
only urban planning, but lobbying efforts from committed residents.
Susan Rodgers, visiting professor in the College of Architecture,
has provided guidance for local efforts to rebuild urban neighborhoods.
Reach her at 713-743-2403 or skrogers@mail.uh.edu
Is Galveston Next on the List?
Donald Van Nieuwenhuise, director of petroleum geoscience programs
at UH, says that while beach replenishment is touted to bring in
tourist dollars, it is a very short-term solution to protect Galveston
from hurricanes. With Galveston only 18 to 20 feet above sea level
at its highest points, a Category Five hurricane would likely exceed
that elevation and remove all recent beach replenishment sands.
For more information, call or e-mail Van Nieuwenhuise at 713-743-3423
or dvnieuwe@mail.uh.edu.
Bill Dupre, an associate professor of geosciences at UH, also can
comment about the impact on the upper Texas coast. Dupre can be
reached at 713-743-3425 or wdupre@uh.edu.
New Taste of New Orleans
The distinct culture and flavor on New Orleans may be diluted or
altered as the city population temporarily settles in other areas
for extended periods. James Conyers, Director of African American
Studies at UH addresses the issue of cultural and sociological destruction
after the hurricane. Reach him at 713-743-2813 or jconyers@uh.edu
Tuned in
Local and national musicians are holding benefit performances to
raise money for Katrina relief. Meanwhile, some evacuees are trying
to keep their spirits high by playing instruments or singing in
shelters. Joe Kotarba, professor of sociology, can discuss why music
can be a coping mechanism after a time of crisis. He can be contacted
at 713-743-3954 or jkotarba@uh.edu.
Lost in Career Transition
As evacuees try to rebuild their lives, their first step is seeking
out new jobs and careers. Katy Greenwood, associate professor of
human development and consumer sciences, can discuss the challenges
faced by adults who have lost their jobs or who are in career transitions.
She can be reached at 713-743-4093 or kgreenwood@uh.edu.
For more information about UH’s response to Hurricane Katrina,
go to www.uh.edu/newsroom/katrina/.
For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.
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