NOAA predicts active 2013 Atlantic hurricane season

NOAA's Climate Prediction Center released its 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season outlook earlier this afternoon.....

NOAA predicts active 2013 Atlantic hurricane season

Era of high activity for Atlantic hurricanes continues

May 23, 2013

In its 2013 Atlantic hurricane season outlook issued today, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Centeris forecasting an active or extremely active season this year.

For the six-month hurricane season, which begins June 1, NOAA’s Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook says there is a 70 percent likelihood of 13 to 20 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 7 to 11 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher).

These ranges are well above the seasonal average of 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes.

“With the devastation of Sandy fresh in our minds, and another active season predicted, everyone at NOAA is committed to providing life-saving forecasts in the face of these storms and ensuring that Americans are prepared and ready ahead of time.” said Kathryn Sullivan, Ph.D., NOAA acting administrator. “As we saw first-hand with Sandy, it’s important to remember that tropical storm and hurricane impacts are not limited to the coastline. Strong winds, torrential rain, flooding, and tornadoes often threaten inland areas far from where the storm first makes landfall.”

Three climate factors that strongly control Atlantic hurricane activity are expected to come together to produce an active or extremely active 2013 hurricane season. These are:

• A continuation of the atmospheric climate pattern, which includes a strong west African monsoon, that is responsible for the ongoing era of high activity for Atlantic hurricanes that began in 1995; 
• Warmer-than-average water temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea; and
• El Niño is not expected to develop and suppress hurricane formation.

“This year, oceanic and atmospheric conditions in the Atlantic basin are expected to produce more and stronger hurricanes,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. “These conditions include weaker wind shear, warmer Atlantic waters and conducive winds patterns coming from Africa."

NOAA’s seasonal hurricane outlook is not a hurricane landfall forecast; it does not predict how many storms will hit land or where a storm will strike. Forecasts for individual storms and their impacts will be provided throughout the season by NOAA’s National Hurricane Center.

New for this hurricane season are improvements to forecast models, data gathering, and the National Hurricane Center communication procedure for post-tropical cyclones. In July, NOAA plans to bring online a new supercomputer that will run an upgraded Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF) model that provides significantly enhanced depiction of storm structure and improved storm intensity forecast guidance.

Also this year, Doppler radar data will be transmitted in real time from NOAA’s Hurricane Hunter aircraft. This will help forecasters better analyze rapidly evolving storm conditions, and these data could further improve the HWRF model forecasts by 10 to 15 percent.

The National Weather Service has also made changes to allow for hurricane warnings to remain in effect, or to be newly issued, for storms like Sandy that have become post-tropical. This flexibility allows forecasters to provide a continuous flow of forecast and warning information for evolving or continuing threats.

“The start of hurricane season is a reminder that our families, businesses and communities need to be ready for the next big storm,” said Joe Nimmich, FEMA associate administrator for Response and Recovery. “Preparedness today can make a big difference down the line, so update your family emergency plan and make sure your emergency kit is stocked. Learn more about how you can prepare for hurricane season at www.ready.gov/hurricanes.”

Next week, May 26 - June 1, is National Hurricane Preparedness Week. To help those living in hurricane-prone areas prepare, NOAA is offering hurricane preparedness tips, along with video and audio public service announcements in both English and Spanish, featuring NOAA hurricane experts and the FEMA administrator at www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/.

Final Project Update Power Point Presentation (Flood Mitigation Project)

As promised, below you will find the power point presentation utilized by DOT and
the RBA Group to provide a final project update for residents on the current status
of the Flood Mitigation Project for West 11th, 12th and 13th Roads at last Thursday's
civic association meeting.

Related posts(s):  http://w12thrd.blogspot.com/2013/05/flood-mitigation-project-update.html

5-22-2013_Final Project Update (HWQ1182A)

Flood Mitigation Project - Update

GOOD NEWS....

It looks like the Flood Mitigation Project (new bulkhead and street raising)

for West 12th Road will soon become a reality!

DOT Queens Commissioner Dalila Hall and Mr. Joseph Menzer from the design firm "The RBA Group"

provide an update on the ongoing Flood Mitigation Project for West 11th, 12th and 13th Roads 

at the American Legion Hall Thursday evening.

[photo by: Sophia Vailakis-DiVirgilio]

New York City Department of Transportation, Borough of Queens, Commissioner Dalila Hall and Mr. Joseph Menzer from the design firm "The RBA Group" provided a presentation on the current status of the Flood Mitigation Project (Capital Project #  HWQ182)  regarding the construction of new bulkheads and raised streets on West 11th, 12th and 13th Roads at the Broad Channel Civic Association meeting Thursday evening, May 22, 2013, at the American Legion Hall.

Representing West 12th Road at this meeting were:

Donna Kramer

MaryAnne Nellan

Sophia Vailakis-DiVirgilio

Jessie Cowan

Scott Valentine

Dashima Valentine

Gwen O'Toole

Trish McCarthy

Peter Mahon

John Heaphy

Jonna Barnes

Summary of Project Status

Final project design, to include new sanitary and storm drainage systems prompted by Hurricane Sandy, is near completion.

It is expected that the final project design and specs will be put out for contractor bids by late June 2013 with construction to start in late summer 2013.

Initial construction will consist of the placement of new bulkheads at the bay end of West 11th, 12th and 13th Roads.

Street raising work will then start initially onWest 12th Road, to be followed by West 11th Road and then West 13th Road.  

It is expected that the entire project will take 3 years, with each of the 3 blocks undergoing construction activity for approximately 1 year.

DOT has arranged to designate approximately 75 parking spaces on the Cross Bay Boulevard median to accommodate displaced parking as each street undergoes street raising work.

There still exists some administrative issues regarding completion and submission of work "consent forms" by  West 12th Road residents; however these will be resolved promptly.

We are awaiting receipt of a copy of the power point presentation utilized by DOT and RBA Group at this meeting.  As soon as we receive it we will post it here.

FEMA To Hire Independent Arbitrator For Dispute Resolution Pilot

FEMA To Hire Independent Arbitrator For Dispute Resolution Pilot

By: Mickey McCarter

05/22/2013 ( 8:00am)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) plans to hire an independent arbitration service to adjudicate disputes that arise over eligibility and expenses for disaster relief funds, the agency said Tuesday. 

The Sandy Recovery and Improvement Act (Public Law 113-2), passed in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, directed FEMA to establish procedures for a Dispute Resolution Pilot Program. 

After presidential disaster declarations, state and local governments and nonprofit organizations can apply for public assistance (PA) grants from the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund. In a solicitation, FEMA announced its plans to hire an arbitrator for disputes that arise over these funds for eligible disasters dating back to Oct. 30, 2012. The dispute resolution timeframe therefore would include applications filed after Hurricane Sandy struck the coast of New Jersey on Oct. 29, 2012.

"On occasion, disputes arise between FEMA and applicants who have applied for federal funding under the PA Program regarding the eligibility and sum of the expenses that should be provided from federal funds to the applicant, pursuant to the Stafford Act and related FEMA regulations set forth in Title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, and agency policies," FEMA said.

FEMA already had an administrative appeals process but the Sandy Recovery Act sought to speed up resolution of disputes between FEMA and public assistance applicants. Under the pilot program, a panel of three neutral arbitrators will weigh arguments in conflicts between FEMA and assistance applicants. Their rulings will become binding. FEMA must set up the pilot program by July 29.

To fulfill the requirement, FEMA will award an indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract to arbitration companies. The agency invited potential bidders to submit questions about the project by May 31; responses to the FEMA request for proposals are due June 12. FEMA anticipates a contract award in July, before the implementation deadline.

A successful bidder will have qualified personnel, technical capabilities, an appropriate management approach and past performance in arbitration suitable to fulfill the goals of the Dispute Resolution Pilot Program.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn realizes Q52 and Q53 bus service is lacking 204 days later!

Whoaaaa!

What happened here?

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn today sent a letter to the MTA regarding the "extremely long lines, overcrowded buses and unreliable service" on the Q52 and Q53 bus lines since all "A" train service went down some 204 days ago with Hurricane Sandy.

Of course, with "A" train service scheduled to resume 8 days from now, on May 30th, this issue will, hopefully, resolve itself.

Where was Speaker Quinn for the past 6 months on this issue?

Why wait this long to address this issue?

Oh, wait a minute....I forgot.

Our speaker is running for Mayor!

rockawaybusletter5-13

Don't forget - Broad Channel Memorial Day Parade - Sunday May 26th......

Broad Channel Memorial Day Parade 2012

Broad Channel

Memorial Day Parade

Sunday, May 26, 2013

On May 26th the VFW will be hosting the Memorial Day parade. The parade will start at 1:30 p.m. All participants will meet at Rock N Roll Bagel at 12:30 p.m. to line up. If anyone wishes to march, please leave a message at the Post. The phone number is 718-634- 5106.

We would gladly appreciate anyone or group who would like to participate. This year we will have Joe Addabbo, Eric Ulrich, Lew Simon and Phil Goldfeder marching with us. Our honorees will be the veterans from St. Albans Hospital, the VFW and the American Legion. Also marching will be the Broad Channel Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts.

Afterwards please join us at the VFW Post for some conversation, hot dogs and beverages with our veterans.

Remember it’s Memorial Day. Let’s come outside and greet and thank our men and women who have served us.

Josette Correa-Turchio

President
Ladies Auxilary

VFW

Prince Wynn Post 260

Broad Channel

Landrieu offers bill to delay increases in flood insurance premiums

Mary Landrieu offers bill to delay increases in flood insurance premiums

Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La. introduced legislation Tuesday (May 21) to block flood insurance premium increases.

 (J. Scott Applewhite, The Associated Press)

By Bruce Alpert, NOLA.com | Times-Picayune 

May 2, 2013

WASHINGTON -- As promised, Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., introduced legislation Tuesday that would delay flood insurance premium increases authorized in 2012 legislation. The increases would be blocked until six months after the Federal Emergency Management Agency conducts an affordability study on the higher premiums. The study is mandated under the 2012 legislation.

Landrieu aides said the delay, along with the completed study, would provide Congress with the information it needs to develop a law that helps make the flood insurance program more sustainable without putting insurance out of the price range of homeowners and businesses.

In addition, the Landrieu bill would repeal provisions in the 2012 federal flood insurance bill that ended subsidized flood insurance rates when a parcel in a high risk area is sold. That would make many Louisiana homes unsellable, she said.

Her bill would also strike a provision blocking the rebuilding of community facilities destroyed in a disaster when the location is in a high-risk area.

The 2012 flood insurance bill, sponsored by Reps. Judy Biggert, R-Ill., and Maxine Waters, D-Caif., was added to a transportation bill that also included the RESTORE Act, legislation allocating 85 percent of Clean Water Act fines for the 2010 BP spill to the Gulf Coast. Biggert is now out of Congress. Waters has promised to work with Louisiana lawmakers to avoid unaffordable rate increases for residents and businesses.

Landrieu, who tried unsuccessfully to amend a Senate water resources bill with a provision delaying implementation of the higher premiums, is calling for quick consideration of her new stand-alone bill.

"Flood insurance must be affordable, accessible and self-sustainable. Biggert-Waters only addressed self-sustainability at the cost of homeowners in Louisiana and across the country living around water," Landrieu said.

But she's likely to run into opposition from lawmakers who believe that the 2012 law, which authorizes increases of 20 to 25 percent per year, was needed to make the program more fiscally sound.

Landrieu said that there's nothing smart about raising rates so high as to make the program unaffordable. 

She's calling her bill the Strengthen, Modernize and Reform the National Flood Insurance Program (SMART NFIP) Act .

"Flood insurance is not just about business and commerce," Landrieu said. "It is about culture; it is about a way of life; it is about preserving coastal communities; and it is about being resilient in storms."

Two weeks ago, 20 parish leaders from South Louisiana traveled to Washington to urge Landrieu and others to take steps to block the higher flood insurance premiums they said would make the program unaffordable for many homeowners and businesses.

Civic Association Meeting Tonight....

REMEMBER

The Broad Channel Civic Association meeting for the month of May 2013 will be held this evening, Wednesday, May 22, 2013, at the American Legion Hall at 7:30 pm.

Related Posts

http://w12thrd.blogspot.com/2013/05/may-2013-civic-association-newsletter.html

http://w12thrd.blogspot.com/2013/05/important-advisory-broad-channel-civic.html

Rockaway Beaches Open this weekend....

From: NY Daily News...

Rockaway beaches readying to open Saturday after $140 million effort to repair Sandy's destruction

'Making the beach inviting to residents and visitors will help revive Rockaway,' says Jonathan Gaska, district manager of Community Board 14. 'We’re hoping people come out to the beach.'

BY LISA L. COLANGELO / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

DEBBIE EGAN-CHIN/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Work being done on Rockaway beach lifeguard stations to replace those destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.

The Rockaway Beach shoreline is turning shades of blue and chartreuse in preparation for Saturday’s unofficial kick-off of the summer season.

Superstorm Sandy dramatically altered the Rockaway landscape, stripping away miles of boardwalk and consuming tons of sand.

It’s taken $140 million and thousands of man-hours, and it’s going to require a lot more work to finish all that needs to be done along the seven-mile stretch of shoreline that’s managed by the city. Still, as of Monday, the beach’s busiest gathering spots were well on the way to being cleaned, secured and spruced up.

“Our goal for Friday is to have all the islands open and have access to the shore,” said Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski, who has spent most of the last few days on site as workers install new modular lifeguard quarters and bathrooms.

City contractors are working to install new boardwalk islands and breezeways, and they’re full of details designed to provide a haven for beachgoers, Lewandowski said.

A pathway speckled with tumbled blue and green glass leads visitors to the beach near 86th St. New silver-toned shaded structures provide relief from the sun. And recycled boardwalk wood has been fashioned into both a staircase and stadium seating leading to the sand.

The Robert Moses-era concession and bathroom stands at Beach 86th, 96th and 106th Sts. have been painted shades of beachy blue and tarty chartreuse. Artists will paint map-like grids of local streets around the sides of the buildings.

The popular concessions — which lured foodies from all over the city in recent years — will be back, operating out of carts or the stands as repairs continue, and a boardwalk island with modular restrooms is being installed at Beach 116th St.

The boxy pre-fab structures tower above the sand in an effort to meet future flood zone requirements. They’ll provide comfort to beach visitors, but some residents and officials are irked by their appearance.

We don’t like the looks of the lifeguard shacks and the new bathrooms,” said Jonathan Gaska, district manager of Community Board 14. “However, the areas around the buildings and the concessions are going to look really nice.”

Local activist Dan Brown said he is disappointed local residents didn’t have more input into the final designs and selection of modular buildings.

“They put up these things that look like trailers,” he said. “They cost $4 million a piece? I think we were ripped off.”

The agency has taken steps to include residents in the rebuilding, said Lewandowski, adding that many people who have stopped by the construction areas have been happy to note the improvements along the storm-ravaged beach.

“Making the beach inviting to residents and visitors will help revive Rockaway,” Gaska said. “We’re hoping people come out to the beach. Our merchants can use the help.”

City-operated beaches will be open for swimming beginning Saturday. Lifeguards are on duty from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For information, call 311 or visit nyc.gov/parks

Bloomberg Wants Flood Protection for Manhattan Waterfronts

NY1 Exclusive: Sources: Mayor To Propose Installation Of Removable Steel Panels In Some Waterfront Areas

By: Josh Robin

[WATCH VIDEO HERE]

More than six months after Hurricane Sandy, Mayor Michael Bloomberg will soon be delivering a major address to unveil his plans for how the city can prevent a repeat of the flooding and devastation in a future storm, and what the mayor is proposing may surprise you. Josh Robin filed the following exclusive report.

Removable steel panels up to 12 feet high, preventing river water from once again overwhelming city streets, may soon line the West Side Highway and other parts of New York's waterfront.

Multiple sources say Mayor Michael Bloomberg will call for their installation in flood-prone areas in Manhattan and possibly elsewhere.

It's the same concept behind permanent Dutch storm surge barriers, but with key differences, including price.

"The fact that it's removable has this benefit of least environmental impact, and least impact to the community in terms of access to the waterfront," said Rick Ellman of Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers.

Sources say the mayor's team is suggesting at least one permanent barrier at Newtown Creek, the toxic waterway between Brooklyn and Queens.

Off the coast, there are more subtle measures to tamp down the sizes of waves out at sea.

A pilot program in Staten Island could include man made islands and wetlands.

Bloomberg is also expected to call for dunes along the Rockaway Peninsula and Staten Island's south shore, still recovering from Hurricane Sandy.

A City Hall spokeswoman says no final decisions have been made.

The mayor's team has been talking to experts.

Oceanographer Malcolm Bowman said the total proposed approach is too piecemeal.

"I think we have to do what Governor Cuomo has asked for, and that's is an engineering analysis of storm surge barriers across the major entrances to New York Harbor, Rockaway to Sandy Hook, and then the East River," Bowman says. "Because nothing less will protect the major airports, the shipping facilities, all the infrastructure that we saw devastated during Sandy."

Others say those barriers could cause more trouble on land that is not protected. In addition, those others say they may cost too much and take too long to build.

Bloomberg is expected to argue that climate change means the city has to move quickly. He'll certainly want his successor to continue these plans after he leaves office in seven months.