NC State Experts Can Discuss Hurricane, Disaster Issues

With Hurricane Irene churning toward the Southeastern United States, media looking for information on a variety of hurricane topics can contact the following North Carolina State University experts:

Storm Surge and Flood Prediction

Marine meteorologist Dr. Lian Xie can discuss research on hurricane formation. Specifically, Xie can talk about hurricane climatology and seasonal prediction; storm surge and coastal flooding forecasting; and ocean-hurricane interaction. He is at 919/515-1435 or lian_xie@ncsu.edu.

Rip Currents

Dr. Jie Yu is an expert in water wave mechanics, coastal hydrodynamics and processes, and environmental fluid mechanics. She can explain rip currents, how hurricanes effect rip current activity and how researchers can predict rip currents. She can be reached at 919/515-7702 or jie_yu@ncsu.edu.

Beach and Dune Erosion

Dr. Margery Overton is an expert on coastal hazards, particularly dune and beach erosion. She is chair of the Science Panel on Coastal Hazards, a group that makes recommendations on coastal topics to the N.C. Coastal Resources Commission. She can be reached at 919/515-7682 or overton@ncsu.edu.

Hurricanes in North Carolina

State Climatologist Ryan Boyles is a weather and climate specialist who can talk about hurricane history and impacts in North Carolina. He can be reached at 919/513-2816 or ryan_boyles@ncsu.edu.

Care for Pets and Animals During and After Disasters

Dr. Kelli Ferris, assistant professor of clinical sciences, has been instrumental in saving animals during natural disasters. Dr. Ferris directs the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Community-Campus Partnership, which provides a range of veterinary services to communities around the Research Triangle. Dr. Ferris is no stranger to disaster relief: Utilizing a mobile veterinary hospital, she cared for hundreds of animals in the aftermaths of Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. She can be reached at 919/606-2752 or kelli_ferris@ncsu.edu.

Dr. Dianne Dunning is the director of NC State’s Animal Welfare, Ethics and Public Service Program. She can discuss these efforts and can talk about how to care for animals and animal survival during disasters. She can be reached at 919/513-6267 or dianne_dunning@ncsu.edu.

Dr. David Eggleston, director of the Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, can speak to the impact that hurricanes can have on crab and fisheries populations along the eastern seaboard. He can be reached at 919/515-7840 or 252/222-6301, or at eggleston@ncsu.edu.

Dr. Barrett Slenning, College of Veterinary Medicine director of agrosecurity and biopreparedness, can speak to large-animal care, emergency needs and biosecurity issues. He can be reached at 919/513-6324 or barrett_slenning@ncsu.edu.

Water Quality

Dr. Greg Jennings is an expert in water quality. Jennings can discuss a hurricane’s effects on drinking water quality and on pollution from farms and urban runoff. He can be reached at 919/600-4790 or jennings@ncsu.edu.

Dr. David Eggleston, director of the Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, can discuss a hurricane’s effects on ocean salinity and dissolved oxygen levels. He can be reached at 919/515-7840 or 252/222-6301, or at eggleston@ncsu.edu.

Effects on Children and Parents

Dr. Kimberly Allen can discuss the effects of disasters – like hurricanes – on children and parents, and how to help parents assist their children in preparing for and recovering from a disaster. She can be reached at 919/515-9139 or kimberly_allen@ncsu.edu.

Home Cleanup and Restoration

Dr. Sarah Kirby can talk about a variety of topics on storm damage to homes, including cleaning and minor structural repairs. She can be reached at 919/515-9154 or sarah_kirby@ncsu.edu.

Effect on Trees and Timber Resources

Forestry and Environmental Resources extension specialist Dr. Robert Bardon can discuss the economic damage to the timber industry and how any salvage operations might be conducted. He can also discuss tree care and cleanup related to urban trees and storm damage. Bardon can be reached at 919/515-5575 or bob_bardon@ncsu.edu.

Disaster-Resilient Housing

Dr. David Tilotta, director of the American Home program, can discuss how to make homes more resistant to natural disasters, as well as ways to speed the return of residents to their homes in the wake of natural disasters. He can be reached at 919/515-5579 or dave_tilotta@ncsu.edu.

Natural Disaster Impact on Tourism

Tourism extension specialists Dr. Samantha Rich and Dr. Stacy Tomas are available to discuss the impact natural disasters play on the coastal tourism industry. Rich can be reached at 919/513-0351 or samantha_rich@ncsu.edu and Tomas can be reached at 919/513-7407 or stacy_tomas@ncsu.edu.

Impact on Local Wildlife

Dr. Chris DePerno, assistant professors of forestry and environmental resources, is an expert in wildlife and fisheries who can discuss the hurricane’s impact on wild animals. DePerno is at 919/513-7559 or chris_deperno@ncsu.edu.

Environmental Concerns

Environmental technologist Dr. Elizabeth Nichols studies the movement of pollutants through the ecosystem. She can discuss ways of dealing with the pollution resulting from a hurricane, and which pollutants may persist longer in the environment than others. Nichols can be reached at 919/513-4832 or elizabeth_nichols@ncsu.edu.

Plant pathologist Dr. Robert Bruck can explain the effects of the hurricane on forests and plant life, and the types of plant diseases that may occur after a hurricane causes changes to their environment. Bruck can be reached at 919/515-2086 or bob_bruck@ncsu.edu.

On the Web

A State Climate Office Web site with real-time access to weather information collected from hundreds of weather stations around the state and bordering regions can be accessed here.

A list of N.C. Cooperative Extension personnel with expertise in disaster-related issues can be accessed here.

Information and materials on tree-related damage after natural disasters can be accessed on Extension Forestry’s website.

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