Various University of Alabama faculty members can offer their expertise on issues related to Hurricane Katrina. Contact these sources for commentary:
DEALING WITH STORM STRESS:
Dr. Jerome Rosenberg (205/348-1918, 348-8414 (office), 205/339-3051 (home) or jrosenbe@bama.ua.edu), professor of psychology and New College, can comment on the psychological impact of the storm and how people can deal with the stress the aftermath of the event and the potential impact of viewing large quantities of the extensive media coverage.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS:
Dr. Marietta Stanton (205/348-1020), professor and graduate coordinator in the Capstone College of Nursing, can speak to disaster preparedness principles based on both her military and civilian experiences. Stanton, a 25-year Army Veteran who was recently mobilized for one year in an Army Reservist role, coordinates the College’s graduate program in case management for rural populations. Nursing students in this program take multiple courses in disaster preparedness, developed by both the Red Cross and FEMA.
HEALTH CONCERNS:
Dr. John Higginbotham (205/348-0025), associate dean for research and health policy, is available to talk about some of the health issues surrounding storm refugees temporarily relocated to Alabama. As an epidemiologist, Higginbotham focuses on factors that affect the health of individuals and large groups, including things like stress and nutrition’s impact on health. He says one of the big issues our state faces in dealing with storm refugees is that many have pre-existing health issues and have had to leave their homes without their medications or with only small amounts. He also says that with storm clean-ups underway, there are many people who are not accustomed to operating equipment, such as chainsaws, who will be trying to do so now, and this could lead to a spike in accidents requiring medical treatment. He can also comment on the health challenges faced by those who did not evacuate and remain in the devastated areas.
Dr. Grant Savage (205/887-4321), coordinator of the Health Care Management Program and HealthSouth Chair in health care management, is available to discuss issues in health care management and health care in general. He has done research on social issues and health care and has been a consultant to mental health centers, primary care centers and other ambulatory health service organizations.
RELIEF EFFORT:
Dr. Thaddeus Ulzen (205/348-1325), chair of the department of psychiatry and behavioral medicine in the College of Community Health Sciences, assisted with the relief efforts associated with Hurricane Floyd in 1999. He can offer a perspective of what it can be like for a relief worker following a natural disaster.
WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS:
Dr. Rocky Durrans (205/348-1710; rdurrans@eng.ua.edu), professor of civil and environmental engineering, can discuss the issues surrounding how to pump out water in the city and the environmental concerns with contaminated water.
Dr. Robert Pitt (205/348-2684, rpitt@eng.ua.edu), professor of civil and environmental engineering, is an expert on water and environmental issues and can comment about the massive environmental clean-up efforts in New Orleans.
CONSTRUCTION/STRUCTURAL ISSUES:
Water and Environmental Concerns – Dr. Rocky Durrans (205/348-1710; rdurrans@eng.ua.edu), professor of civil and environmental engineering, can discuss the issues surrounding how to pump out water in the city and the environmental concerns with contaminated water.
Wastewater treatment and water purification – Dr. Pauline Johnson (205/348-3577, paulinej@eng.ua.edu), associate professor of civil and environmental engineering.
Structural Issues About the Levees – Dr. Andrew Graettinger (608/251-0529; andrewg@eng.ua.edu), associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, and Dr. Duk Park (205/348-1679; dpark@eng.ua.edu), professor of civil and environmental engineering, can discuss the structure of the levees and issues surrounding repairs/rebuilding.
Structural/General Construction Issues – Dr. Ken Fridley (205/348-3585; kfridley@eng.ua.edu), professor and head of the civil and environmental engineering department, can discuss general construction issues and structural survivability in natural disasters.
GAS PRICES:
Dr. Peter Clark (205/348-1682, 205/246-3607, pclark@eng.ua.edu), associate professor of chemical engineering, can discuss rising oil prices, the effects of the hurricane and using the oil reserve on prices, and other factors such as the war influencing pricing. Clark is frequently quoted in national news about oil and gas pricing, and in 2002, he was selected as a Society of Petroleum Engineers’ Distinguished Lecturer and traveled the country lecturing about ways to increase oil and gas production.
SOCIETAL ISSUES—RACE AND CLASS:
Dr. Ellen L. Csikai (205/348-4447, ecsikai@sw.ua.edu), associate professor of social work, can discuss how the issues of race and poverty have been addressed in this disaster.
MEDIA ISSUES:
Dr. George Daniels (205/348-8618, gdaniels@bama.ua.edu), assistant professor of journalism, can discuss covering stories involving trauma and tragedies. How do you talk with people who have lost everything? How much coverage is too much? Daniels also can discuss the difference between “water faucet viewing” and “appointment viewing” and “how the cable news channels are heavily dependent on water faucet viewers.” Daniels says, “The cable news channels experience their highest ratings in big news stories like Katrina.”
POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS:
Dr. David Lanoue (205/310-1863, dlanoue@hotmail.com), professor and chair of political science, can discuss President Bush’s handling of the crisis, as well as, the finger pointing that has already begun over the handling of the situation.
Economic Impact:
Dr. Carl Ferguson (205/348-2943, cferguso@cba.ua.edu), associate dean for research and technology and director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the Culverhouse College of Commerce, can provide insight on Hurricane Katrina’s economic impact on Alabama and the Southeast.
Dr. James Cover (205/348-8977, 205/454-0164, jcover@cba.ua.edu), professor of economics, can discuss the overall economic aspects such as how price adjustments can help speed recovery and the effects of laws against profiteering and price gouging.
Dr. Robert Brooks (205/348-8987, rbrooks@cba.ua.edu), SouthTrust professor of financial management, is available to discuss energy futures contracts and financial derivatives contracts as impacted by the hurricane. Brooks is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a consultant on futures contracts and derivatives contracts.
Dr. Glenn Richey (205/348-8922, grichey@cba.ua.edu), associate professor of marketing and supply chain management (and a native of Mobile), is an expert in supply chain management and logistics and is available to discuss the problems involved in supplying the flood stricken areas.
Dr. Louis Marino (205/348-8946, lmarino@cba.ua.edu), associate professor of strategic management, can discuss the issues faced by the owners of small businesses damaged or destroyed by the storm. His specialty areas are entrepreneurship and strategic management.
Dr. William Samson (205/348-2903, wsamson@cba.ua.edu), Roddy-Garner Professor of Accounting, says taxpayers in the storm-stricken area need to be aware of the variety of variables involved when considering their losses. Samson says the government permits taxpayers to choose when to deduct their loss – either on their 2005 return or amend their 2004 return and deduct the 2005 loss against their 2004 income, resulting in a faster return. Samson can discuss that and other tax implications.
LONG-TERM CRISIS MANAGEMENT:
Dr. Ellen L. Csikai (205/348-4447, ecsikai@sw.ua.edu), associate professor of social work, says that people are going to be dealing with the aftermath for weeks, months, maybe even years. Can Americans sustain their relief efforts for six months to a year? Csikai says everyone always wants to help in the first few days of the crisis, but interest tends to wane. Will that be the case with Katrina?
FLOODING:
Dr. David Shankman (205/348-1534), professor of geography, studies the flooding of rivers. He was in China in 1998 when the Yangtze River flooded and has seen, first-hand, the destruction and talked with people who lived in the shadow of the levee that broke there. His research (focusing primarily on China) involves flood prevention/prediction and how landscape changes can result in increased flooding frequency. As part of his flooding predictions he is well-versed in weather issues, and he teaches climatology classes. He could address some of the weather factors possibly at work in the recent increase in hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico.
RUNNING OUT OF STORM NAMES?
Dr. David Shankman (205/348-1534), professor of geography, teaches climatology classes and is well versed in weather issues. He can discuss some of the factors surrounding this potentially record-breaking storm season.
HOW TO ANSWER CHILDREN’S QUESTIONS:
Dr. John Lochman (205/348-7678, 205/348-5083, jlochman@gp.as.ua.edu), professor and Saxon Chair of clinical psychology. An expert in clinical child psychology, Lochman says parents should reassure their children that while bad things may be happening nationally, the children, on a personal level, are safe.
Dr. Patti Harrison (205/348-8283, pharriso@aalan.ua.edu), professor of school psychology, can discuss how parents and teachers can deal with explaining this tragic situation to children.
ALTERNATIVE FUELS:
Dr. Peter Clark (205/348-1862, 205/348-3607, pclark@eng.ua.edu), associate professor of chemical engineering, and Dr. Duane Johnson (205/348-1682, djohnson@eng.ua.edu), associate professor of chemical engineering, are both available to discuss their new research effort with Biodiesel Corp. of Alabama, a newly founded company that will be producing biodiesel in the state.
HYBRIDS:
Dr. Clark Midkiff (205/348-1645, cmidkiff@eng.ua.edu), associate professor of mechanical engineering and director of UA’s Center for Advanced Vehicle Technology, can discuss hybrid vehicles. Midkiff and the CAVT just received an additional $2 million from the Highway Bill to continue research on hybrid electric vehicles.
HYDROGEN:
Drs. Anthony Arduengo (205/348-3556, ajarduengo@worldnet.att.net), Saxon Professor of Chemistry, and David Dixon (205/348-8441, dadixon@bama.ua.edu), Robert Ramsay Chair of Chemistry, can discuss hydrogen as an alternative fuel. The pair is leading a five-year, $2.24 million federally funded study examining ways to make hydrogen a feasible alternative to power automobiles. Hydrogen, when chemically combined in a fuel cell with oxygen, can produce electrical energy.
For assistance setting up interviews or finding additional sources, call Suzanne Dowling or Chris Bryant or, for broadcast assistance, call Bill McDaniel or Chandra Clark, all at 205/348-5320.
For a complete list of UA experts on various topics, see our sourcebook on-line at http://experts.ua.edu or go to uanews.ua.edu and click on Reporter’s Sourcebook.