PORTLAND, OR--(Marketwire - August 22, 2008) - August 29th marks the three-year anniversary
of Hurricane Katrina. In 2008, Cyclone Nargis claimed hundreds of
thousands of lives. Experts have heightened their predictions for an active
hurricane season in the USA. Have we learned any lessons from recent
events? Are we better prepared for the future?
WHO: Deborah Brosnan, Ph.D, is Founder of the
Sustainable Ecosystems Institute (SEI). She
is an expert on the impact of natural disasters on ecosystems who worked
throughout southeast Asia after the tsunami and advised in the Gulf Coast
after Hurricane Katrina. She has presented expert testimony to U.S. Senate
and House committees and advised governments and other sectors on science,
conservation, and science policy. Dr. Brosnan has been featured on NPR, "48
Hours" and "The Oprah Winfrey Show." See more at
http://www.tsunamireefactionfund.org/about.htm
SEI is an organization of more than 1000 scientists from academia,
government, and the private sector dedicated to bridging the gap between
the scientific community and society at large. Its scientists work in the
U.S. and internationally on ocean issues, forests, endangered species, and
the interface between science and policy. Founded in 1994, it is
headquartered in Portland, Oregon. For more, visit
www.sei.org.
WHAT: Two hundred million people were affected by natural disasters in
2007, up 48% from 2006 (Jan. 2008 annual UN-linked report). Based on the
predictions of IPCC, we can expect many more natural disasters. Worldwide,
governments are unprepared for the scale of disasters, making decisions
inadequate for the realities of large-scale catastrophes. Facts:
-- Hurricanes have killed close to 2 million people during the past two
centuries. Most victims die from the effects of storm surges, which are
made stronger when humans destroy coastal ecosystems leaving no protective
barrier.
-- Hurricane Fay's flooding may push tides 1-3 feet above normal, making
a storm surge a major issue for residents.
-- The cost in human lives and damage is growing. Hurricane Andrew cost
$35 billion. Hurricane Katrina cost $81.2 billion.
-- Hurricane intensity has increased in the North Atlantic since 1970 -
correlated with higher sea temperatures. Climate models indicate that there
is a 66% chance that we will see increases in hurricane intensity in this
century.
WHEN: Available for comment on stories and developments related to natural
disasters.
Contact Information: Contacts:
Jacquie Dehaan
+1-503-246-5008
brosnan@sei.org
Liza Colburn
+1-781-738-0001
lcolburn@emergepr.com