Blockbuster Atlantic Hurricane Season Closes ( Damage in the Gulf oil fields shows up at the pumps)

Myway news ^ | Nov 30, 4:37 PM (ET) | Jim Loney

[Southack]

"Hurricane Ivan was a nightmare for the oil industry, thrashing through the Gulf of Mexico's most productive oil and gas fields and wrecking platforms and undersea pipelines."

...And yet, American oil-field technology is so good and so safe that not a single drop of oil was spilled from the hurricanes this year.

[shibumi]

It's Bush's fault.

[stboz]

It's a very, very rare event," Mayfield said. "I wouldn't expect it again."

Idiot.

[shibumi]

The main reason no oil was spilled is that the dangerous weather kept the "Heroic Greenpeace Warriors" out of the water and out of the way.

[JanetteS]

It's Bush's fault.

You joke but here in Central Florida where three of the storms crossed some dem group actually put up billboards stating it was Bush's fault. Global warming and all that.

It's okay, it actually added humor to an otherwise sad situation.

[jolie560]

..."...the 2004 season has produced 15 storms...

..."The amazing thing was only three of the storms did not have an impact on land..."...

A lot of creative building did withstand these storms in Florida. Private homeowners on their own built 'storm-proof' structures that did very well.

As with most natural disasters, engineering improvements will be copied. Good, prudent homeowners will make sure that their homes have the improvements.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

What do you do to build a storm proof structure short of using reinforced concrete?

[Strategerist]

Idiot.

The odds of four hurricanes hitting Florida within 6 weeks again within the lifetime of Mayfield or anyone reading this thread are pretty darn low.

I fail to see what's idiotic about Mayfield's statement.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Or let them Protest in the oil fields during the hurricane.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

There are some serious threads on "it's Bush's fault":

MoveOn.org : Bush to Blame For 'Extreme' Hurricane Season

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Bolt all the main load bearing floor joist and beams into the concrete block that is in the ground at least 5 feet.
And use metal bolts or straps through out the whole house, from the foundation, to the roof struts.

[Strategerist]

What do you do to build a storm proof structure short of using reinforced concrete?

Depends if you mean "storm proof" against wind or storm proof against storm surge.

Building a house that will survive a storm surge on the beach does require building an enormously expensive fortress.

Building a house that will survive hurricane winds with almost no damage is quite easy. Doesn't require reinforced concrete at all. Simply building the house with round walls instead of rectangular while still using standard housing materials and not spending much more money than a real house will work. One survived the brunt of Charley with no damage.

Simply making sure corners aren't cut in construction, that the roof is securely attached, and proper use of purpose-built shutters will allow almost any site-built house to survive Cat 3s and most cat 4 winds with very little damage. A very strong Cat 4 or Cat 5 can still do some wind damage but those are very, very, very rare, the area of those winds is narrow in any storm.

[jolie560]

Reinforced concrete was one plan. Knowing the flood plains was another.

Tornados and Heavy rain produce as much damage as the hurricane eye-wall does. Lots of areas that don't get the 'direct-hit' get the heavy rain and the tornados.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Sounds like good practice that is used in earthquake country also.

[ilgipper]

Those signs are classic. Best of all, they are still up now. Good money spent, MoveOn.dumb

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Yes,, tell them protesters,, " Sure ! if you want, you can go out to the oil drill sights and protest during IVAN ,, no problem,, just don't expect the Coast Guard to come and save your butts "

[shibumi]

That is sad!

George Noory wouldn't even put something that ridculous on C2C AM. (Don't get me wrong, I like his program.)

[Prophet in the wilderness]

what gets me ( and the hypocrisy of them is ? ) they protest against us to drill for oil, but, yet, still drive their SUVs, or VOVOLS. .... I like to see someone make a bumper sticker that says ... " SAVE THE EVIROMENT and GAS PRICES , MAKE THE LIBS/DEMS WALK TO WORK AND SHOPPING "

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

SAVE THE EVIROMENT and GAS PRICES , MAKE THE LIBS/DEMS WALK TO WORK AND SHOPPING "

Now that would be discrimination....but i would like to see it!