Gulf Oil Spill Dangers Increase with Start of Hurricane Season 2010

With the start of what is predicted to be an active hurricane season, the dangers of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill move farther inland. According to a New York Times article, researchers are concerned about the potential for hurricane force winds compounding the existing environmental disaster in the Gulf.

• New York Times article: Hurricane Season Raises New Fears

If a hurricane’s path collides with the spill, the winds and storm surges could push the oil on the Gulf’s surface over a wider area of the Gulf, and even farther inland. This “unprecedented environmental catastrophe” possibly could even intensify the storm’s effects by heating the water. There are hopes that the oil could weaken the storm but this has yet to be proven.

For further information on the Gulf Coast oil spill, please see The White House’s web page dedicated to the Deepwater BP Oil Spill.

Keep checking the Hurricane Preparedness & Response for Florida Public Libraries web portal for more information regarding the 2010 Hurricane season.

- Information Institute

Hurricane Season 2010 Begins - And NOAA Predicts It Will Be a Busy Season

Today, June 1, is the start of the 2010 hurricane season and according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), it's going to be an "active to extremely active" season.

• NOAA Expects Busy Atlantic Hurricane Season

With the prediction of 14 to 23 named storms this seasons, it is important for libraries to be prepared. Visit the Hurricane Preparedness & Response for Florida Public Libraries web portal for helpful information.

- Information Institute

Webinar: Hurricane Preparedness and Response

Join guest presenter, Lauren Mandel, research coordinator for a new project that identifies and collects key service roles, best practices, tools and resource to make better use of the public libraries for hurricane and disaster preparation and recovery.

The Florida-based project helps libraries reprioritize disaster and recovery efforts to address the needs of the broader community through partnerships with fellow responders and to become a safe haven, a recovery center, information hub and evacuee resource. Come learn how this project can inform your library's disaster preparedness plan and how your library can play an important role in community preparedness and recovery.

• Webinar: Hurricane Preparedness and Response

McClure Makes Presentation at Texas Library Association

Charles R. McClure, Francis Eppes Professor and Director of the Information Institute, spoke at the Texas Library Association April 17, 2010 in San Antonio. The presentation offered a tutorial on how to best use the website at

http://hurricanes.ii.fsu.edu/

The presentation also discussed the applicability of the website's content for hurricane preparedness and response in the state of Texas and other gulf coast states. There was considerable interest in expanding the coverage of the website to have content specific to other gulf coast states.

A number of the participants had been in recent hurricanes that have struck Texas and the fulf coast and offered suggestions and ideas for additional content and resources for the website.

- Information Institute