Disasters

Economic Impact of Terrorist Attacks Fifteen Times Higher Than Previously Thought

by admin on April 26, 2012 14:06 pm · Comments/Link

A new study estimates that a terrorist attack involving the detonation of a dirty bomb in downtown Los Angeles would cost the area $16 billion, mostly in lost revenue. By contrast, the immediate cost of such an attack, loosely defined as the cost necessary to deal with the injured and restore the area to a pre-attack condition along with revenue lost due to temporary businesses closings, is estimated at a little over $1 billion. The rest of the cost would result from the psychological impact of the attack on potential shoppers, diners and employees.

The point of the study was not to generate anxiety, according to researcher William Burns of Design Research, who co-authored the study along with researchers from the University of Oregon, the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, Brown University, Monash University and ABS Consulting. Rather, the investigators hoped to increase awareness of the potential impact on the public of terrorism and to highlight the importance of establishing effective risk communication as an important part of both disaster preparedness and response.
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Realtime Radiation Levels in Japan, in Google Earth View

by Mark on March 26, 2011 14:24 pm · Comments/Link

I bow to the power of the internet. Website Pachube is displaying real-time, crowdsourced radiation levels in Japan, in a Google Earth graphic you can control. Click the image below to go right to it. I believe your browser needs to have the Google Earth plugin installed; if you don’t have it you’ll be asked to download it. It’s worth it as more and more sites are using the Google Earth API.

real time radiation levels japan

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Could Tsunami Disaster Cause Japan to Sell Off U.S. Debt?

by Mark on March 25, 2011 17:30 pm · Comments/Link

Japan’s troubles resulting from the tsunami continue to grow, and the estimates of the expense to rebuild and the hit to their economy grows as well. This hasn’t affected the United States much yet, but what happens if their quest for capital forces them to sell some of their $886 billion in US debt holdings? The Washington Times reports:

Some lawmakers and market analysts are expressing rising concerns that a demand for capital by earthquake-ravaged Japan could lead it to sell off some of its huge holdings of U.S.-issued debt, leaving the federal government in an even tighter financial pinch.

Others say a major debt sell-off by Tokyo is unlikely, but noted that the mere fact that questions are being raised speaks volumes about the risks involved in relying so heavily on foreign investors to fund U.S. debt.

“This natural disaster in Japan concerns me that it could speed up what’s coming, because they are the second leading buyer of our debt,” Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican, told The Washington Times. “Small degrees of differences in how much they buy of our debt, I think, can make a big difference in interest rates that we have to pay people to buy our debt.”

And keep in mind they don’t just have to sell any of the holdings, they could just reduce their new purchases. Any disinvestment by Japan could end up causing higher interest rates here as the U.S. could be forced to pay higher rates on its securities to attract other buyers.

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Bunker Sales Surge in Wake of Doomsday Fears

by Mark on March 23, 2011 20:13 pm · Comments/Link

With earthquakes, tsunamis, wars, revolutions, terrorism and of course the apocalyptic movie 2012, is it any wonder that doomsday bunker sales are going through the roof? CNN filed a report on various companies that are reaping the benefits of peoples’ fears, and it’s quite an interesting read. There’s even a company called Vivos that sells doomsday condos, if you will:

The company has more than five 200-person shelters in the U.S. that are in various stages of construction, but this facility outshines them all.

The bunker, which is being built under the grasslands of Nebraska, is 137,000 square feet — bigger than a Wal-Mart — can house 950 people for up to one year, and can withstand a 50 megaton blast. Once completed, it will boast four levels of individual suites, a medical and dental center, kitchens, bakery, prayer room, computer area, pool tables, pet kennels, a fully stocked wine cellar and a detention center to place anyone who turns violent.

Plus, there will be a fortified 350-foot lookout tower for residents who want to see what’s happening in the outside world.

As one Vivos customer commented, “”I’m not a psychic but I’m not a scientist either, so I’d rather err on the side of caution — and I’d rather survive and live in a bunker for a year than be wiped out,”

Worth a full read: CNN.

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Successful Earthquake Forecaster: North America on Tap for Imminent Earthquake

by Mark on March 17, 2011 16:40 pm · Comments/Link

When I first started watching this on TV two days ago, I thought to myself, who is this kook? Then Neil Cavuto told the listeners who he is: former USGS Geologist Jim Berkland who, among other predictions, accurately predicted the 1989 World series earthquake 4 days early. He says that North America will be in a high risk seismic window between the dates of March 19th and 26th.

Here’s the transcript:

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U.S. Surgeon General Fuels Run on Iodine Pills

by Mark on March 16, 2011 6:47 am · 1 comment

Yesterday saw reports that a nuclear cloud could float across the Pacific from the melting nuclear reactors in Japan to the California coast, spreading radiation to Americans. California state and country officials spent the day calming peoples’ fears and trying to slow a run on iodine tablets at pharmacies. But then U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin opened her big mouth and fueled a panic.

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Fukushima Nuclear Meltdown Illustrated in Animation Video

by Mark on March 15, 2011 9:10 am · Comments/Link

We hear the term nuclear meltdown used over and over this week. But do you know exactly what it is, and specifically how it would work in Japan’s damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant? Here’s a great animation put out by Al Jazeera, which gives you a good understanding of what what a meltdown is.

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