Hurricane season begins June 1

[theHandpuppet]

So what happens if there are any major storms, or even a strong tropical storm, in the Gulf between now and August? Besides pushing all that oily sludge to shore, can these storms push those underwater plumes to land? Are they capable of producing a "toxic rain" of water, oil and dispersants? Just how far inland could such damage be expected?

I know this is a subject we'd rather not even think about, but what kind of preparations could be made in case of such a scenario, if anything at all?

I'm no scientist, but shouldn't there be some kind of public discussion, either generated by the media or our govt, about what we could expect? What are the various scenarios and what kind of preparations can be made?

[TTUBatfan2008]

1. That's the scariest aspect of this IMHO...

Hurricanes and tropical storms churn up a lot of water, which could lead to pushing the oil (both on top of the water and beneath the surface) ashore. The marshes are already in bad shape and can't handle anymore of this stuff.

[Urban Prairie]

2. I posted about the same regarding the ominous upcoming hurricane season here several days ago...

I would hope that FEMA would begin preparations NOW to begin planning for a mass evacuation for all within a predicted hurricane or tropical storm's path into the US mainland. But there has not been any formal discussions about it yet, or about what the public should or should not do, to my knowledge...?

I have read that some of the more toxic dispersant chemicals may turn from liquid into gas, and go into the atmosphere, IF the GOM heats up enough this summer, and considering that it has darkened (and may darken even more) from the crude oil on and just below the surface, and it appears pretty obvious that the Gulf will just become much warmer and warmer as the summer begins and progresses.

I believe that the wind swept rain and storm surge will contain dispersant as well as crude oil. (why wouldn't it?!?) There is very little chance that the oil already in the GOM could possibly be sufficiently cleaned up within just a few months, IMO, even if the gusher was killed at the end of this week.

WHERE IS THE URGENCY???

My expectations, (if no plan is offered nor presented) are as follows with a hurricane warning:

1)Yikes!!

2)Panic!!

3)Gangway!!!

How many days will those who may be affected in the SE US have if a hurricane or TS forms in the Atlantic? A week? I would guess that it would depend upon the speed, direction , and the size of any storm, of course.

Speaking of "storms"

[MadHound]

3. Yeppers, that's the unanswered question,

Given that hurricane systems carry Gulf moisture far inland. I live in Missouri and we regularly get heavy rains from the hurricanes that come inland as large low fronts.

[doublethink]

4. Reason I put the little huricane in the bottom of this pic a couple days ago ...

I think precautions at an individual level in the Gulf area should start now. Do what you can ... get ahead of it ... but yes keep this subject front and center .... for more awareness at the government level also. Keep the discussion going ... K&R.

[scheming daemons]

5. Ironically, I heard some scientists say the other day that a hurricane could actually HELP

"The solution to pollution is dilution."


Nothing would dilute the oil in the gulf more than a massive hurricane sweeping over it.

[Cleita]

6. Also, the centrifuge of the hurricane could separate oil from water.

The big questions is where would the oil be dumped?

[scheming daemons]

7. Oil dumped on land is easier to clean up than in the sea

Hopefully, it would be dumped on Bobby Jindal's fucking house.

[Cleita]

9. I thought of Rush Limbaugh's Palm Beach mansion.

Oh there are so many good targets among the former oil company cheerleaders. Where are the Bushes these days, Dallas? Their mansion could be a good dumping place too.

[Urban Prairie]

8. Should a storm surge be considered dilution?

I would think that the surface crude would become "diluted" after the hurricane passes.

But... what about the crude lying beneath?

Oh wait, our main man on the scene, BP's own Tony Hayward stated that there are no plumes beneath the surface of the GOM...phew!!

:sarcasm:

[Jamastiene]

10. Yes, it can do all of the above.

Plus, acid rain is going to be worse.

Of course, scientists are too busy dissecting dead oil covered animals to see if they died of natural causes or not. Why? I don't know. Any logical person knows that's what killed them, but scientists cannot be bothered to use logic and figure out that massive amounts of animals covered in massive amounts of oil are dying because they cannot breathe oil, eat oil, swim in oil, digest oil, procreate in oil, etc.

So, of course, scientists will need a decade or more to answer your question officially.

I'll just save you that 10 year or more wait. Yes. It is going to be a fucking nightmare. It won't be a Hollywood-style-everything-covered-in-oil-and-visible-to-the-naked-eye type thing, but the effects will be devastating to the environment, health and safety nonetheless.

[dgibby]

12. Official cause of death is necessary in order to hold BP

financially responsible; otherwise, the lying bastards will try to weasel out of paying for it.

[Jamastiene]

14. True, but it could just as easily go the other way.

Depending on which scientists do the autopsies. We know how that works already. Some scientists say global warming doesn't exist and some say it does. I expect it could be the same with this. It'll depend on which scientists do the autopsies and if they are bought. That's what irritates me. BP has already asked for a pro-oil judge and jury. I hope they haven't bought the scientists who are doing the autopsies too.

[theHandpuppet]

13. I question just how much dispersal will result

Wouldn't the surface oil/water be pushed landward ahead of the storm itself? I would think the actual storm would disperse more of the underwater plumes. In any case, I would think the entire area in the storm's path would have a long-term, potable water problem.

Another question about ground clean up... I know some folks have said that it is easier to clean up the oil from land than it is in water, but I assume they are referring to the sludge in its existing form, which can be skimmed off the surface. But if a hurricane or strong tropical dilutes the sludge into a mix of tiny water/oil particles distributed by wind and rain over a wide area, including agricultural lands, how in the world would you clean that up?

As I said, I'm no scientist but I do have a lot of questions. Since we know this gusher won't be fixed until at least August, isn't it time someone in an official capacity -- such as the EPA -- began a public discusssion on what we could expect?

[TexasObserver]

11. To-morrow! To-morrow! It'll be here to-morrow. It's only a day away.

June first, that is.