This past week, Hurricane Ike tore through the Texas coast leaving a string of destruction in its wake. Despite the fact that many homes are still without power and the death toll stands at 23, in truth, things could have been a lot worse. Since Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans in 2005, storm preparation has been amped up considerably – with innovative new technologies playing a key role.
For weather trackers, satellites are an essential tool for predicting storm paths. Across the ocean, the European Space Agency (ESA) uses earth-observation satellites to determine the strength and path of hurricanes so they can provide early warnings to individuals in the danger zones. To track Hurricane Ike, the ESA used an innovative satellite called Envisat, which allows for simultaneous viewing of the top and bottom of a hurricane. The advanced satellite can see through heavy clouds and precipitation, provide high-resolution imagery and measure wind and wave speeds over a 250-mile area. In the near future, the ESA plans on launching an improved satellite (called Sentinel-1) to follow Envisat. Sentinel-1 is expected to provide additional and more accurate data along with higher imaging resolution.
For a closer perspective on hurricanes, storm chaser Mark Sudduth invented his own piece of innovative equipment. After a close call during Hurricane Charley in 2004, Sudduth created Remote Camera Storm Cases. These watertight video cameras allow storm footage to be streamed from inside the eye of a storm without putting human lives at risk. Similar to the black boxes on airplanes, each case is equipped with two small, high-resolution cameras, a laptop for streaming video, a VCR with nine hours of videotape (tape is less susceptible to saltwater damage than digital files), and two 75-pound marine batteries (which provide power and keep the cases from blowing away). The storm cases cost about $1,800 each and have been purchased and used by CNN. Sudduth recently set up three of the cases along the Gulf in Galveston as Ike approached. The storm videos can be viewed by subscribers on Sudduth’s Web site.
For the homeowner who decides to ride a storm out, independent inventor David Dodgen created the Aqua Pod Kit. Since hurricanes and other storms often result in no running water or contaminated water, Dodgen designed the kit to provide individuals with a convenient means of storing fresh water. The Aqua Pod Kit consists of a 65-gallon plastic containment unit and a lock-and-load pump. As a storm approaches, a homeowner places the containment unit in a bathtub and fills it with water. The individual then locks the pump into place on the unit's opening and dispenses water as needed. Dodgen claims the kit holds enough water for a family of four to subside for 14 days, and the water inside can remain drinkable for up to two months. Aqua Pod Kits (along with replacement units) are available for purchase from the Aqua Pod Web site and select retail locations (with a suggested price of $40).
