Hurricane Tracking and Preparation with New Forecasting Tools

Hurricane Tracking in the Atlantic

Forecasting Severe Storms in Real Time to Better Prepare for Them

Hurricane activity in the Atlantic is supposed to be near-normal this year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

    

NOAA used hurricane tracking to predict 9 to 15 named storms in 2019, 4 to 8 of which could be hurricanes, and 2 to 4 of which could become major hurricanes.

 

But, can NOAA's hurricane forecasting be improved upon? With the right information, sure it can.

With more up-to-date information, NOAA’s ability to predict storms will improve and, in turn, the public’s ability to prepare for storms will improve as well.  

Preparing for storms well in advance is one of the best ways to survive them. Knowing how to prepare and what hurricane supplies are needed is also important.  With NOAA’s forecasting systems getting new information soon, knowing when to prepare for future storms will be essential.

But, what are these changes to NOAA’s forecasting system and how do they work?

Changes to NOAA’s  Global Forecast System are coming in the form of six new satellites that will orbit the earth’s equator.

This system of six weather satellites is called COSMIC-2, or the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate.

It’s part of a join effort between the U.S. Air Force, NOAA, Taiwan’s National Space Organization, and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, built on the success of the COSMIC-1 program, launched in 2006, which established a climate change thermometer and a global weather forecast.

How NOAA Tracks for Hurricanes

This system of satellites will better track hurricanes around the equator where they are first formed. COSMIC-2 will use radio occultation data to improve weather forecasting models.

How does it all work? Radio occultation is the measurement of how radio waves from global positioning systems and constellations bend as they move through the atmosphere.

GPS satellites circle the equator and send signals down to receivers on earth. Because the density of the earth’s atmosphere changes with height, these signals get distorted along the way. COSMIC-2 hurricane tracking satellites measure the bend in those signals before they’re cut off by the horizon.

These measurements that COSMIC-2 satellites take give scientists real-time information on temperature, pressure, density, and water vapor, all of which are valuable data that scientists can use to track hurricanes.

At a glance, COSMIC-2 satellites measure these in the atmosphere:

•          Temperature
•          Pressure
•          Density
•          Water Vapor

Preparing for Hurricanes Before They Strike

Making sure your business is fully equipped to safely ride through a storm is essential. Once COSMIC-2’s information is up and running, meteorologists will have a better idea of when severe weather will strike, but you can start preparing for hurricanes now. 

Hurricane essentials for businesses are:

• Potable water
• Back-up fuel supply
• Flood protection
• Durable tarp covering

Potable Water Storage During Hurricanes

Clean drinking water is usually the first thing everyone puts on their hurricane supply list. That’s because having a supply of clean, potable water for everyday needs is essential. When dealing with the after-effects of a storm, having an emergency water storage tank can be a life saver.

Bladder water tanks are built for safe water storage with durable fabric that meets FDA potable water requirements. GEI Works’ Mars Water Bladder Tanks range in size from 25 gallons to 210,000 gallons.

The emergency water storage onion tanks are easy to set up and made with durable fabric. GEI Works’ Hydrostar Onion Tank can be custom-made with fabric suitable for drinking water. Onion tanks are self rising, self supporting, and fold easily for convenient storage. Low side onion water tanks range from 250 to 10,000 gallons, and high side onion water tanks range from 500 to 10,000 gallons.

Frame tanks are also a valuable tool for water storage. GEI Works’ Centaur frame tank can be quickly set up and filled with water for emergency storage. Having a water storage tank with a liner made with FDA approved materials for potable water is essential. Frame tanks like these range in size from 500 to 5,000 gallons.

Tarp Protection from Wind and Rain

Protecting materials during a hurricane means covering equipment like dumpsters, dump trucks, and secondary containment vessels against rain, wind, and flying debris. GEI Works’ tarps are water proof and leak resistant and can be made in customizable sizes to protect valuable equipment.

Flood Barriers for Storm Surge Protection

Hurricane-force winds bring with them rising oceans and flood waters. Using a flood barrier to protect against flash floods and hurricane storm surge offers higher protection as opposed to smaller sandbags.

GEI Works’ flood barriers can be filled with sand, gravel, or even concrete. Using bulk bags for flood protection is a viable choice for flood protection, as bulk bags offer a larger line of defense than sandbags.

Fuel Tank Preparation during a Storm

Having gasoline is essential during times of severe weather, when generators, vehicles, and other machines might require it. Once the storm has passed, gas trailers might not be able to get through to replenish stations if roads are blocked and power lines are down.

Being  able to store fuel safely on your property will save worry in the long run . A collapsible tank for stationary fuel storage solves this problem. Flexible  fuel tanks come in small and large sizes; smaller bladders come in sizes from 25 to 5,000 gallons and larger bladders comes in sizes from 5,000 to 210,000 gallons.

Looking Forward to New Information in Hurricane Tracking

The COSMIC-2 satellites launched last week on SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket. Once in orbit, the satellites will be tested for seven months before any data are used in weather models. COSMIC-2 will also fly two space weather science payloads: a radio frequency beacon transmitter and an ion velocity meter to gather even more information.

COSMIC-2 information at a glance:

• Comprised of six hurricane tracking satellites orbiting Earth's equator
• Measures changes in atmosphere
• Gives real-time data to scientists for hurricane tracking

The technology for predicting natural disasters won’t stop them from occurring, but it will make it easier to know when they’re coming. However, we already know the best time to prepare for a storm is now.

Bolstering  Hurricane Forecasting

The information provided by these satellites will help meteorologists and scientists better observe and track hurricanes, typhoons, and other destructive weather systems.

In recent years, in the U.S. particularly, hurricanes have wreaked havoc. Costly hurricanes, like Harvey, Maria, and Irma just in 2017 alone, slammed into the coasts, causing damage with wind, storm surge, and flooding further inland.

Knowing what’s coming will help, but being proactive about hurricane preparedness is the best possible plan.

Have questions about how  you can better prepare your business for hurricanes? To learn more about GEI Works, contact us at +1-772-646-0597 to receive one-on-one assistance with all your hurricane season preparedness needs.

Toxic Spills: The Right Products Can be a Big Help

Toxic spills occur with great frequency in and around the United States. In most cases, containment and cleanup are routine.

But the Environmental Protection Agency spill that began Aug. 5 and eventually dumped 3 million gallons of toxic mine waste into the Animas River captured the public’s attention. The yellow and orange river water quickly stretched 100 miles into three states, carrying such toxins as lead, arsenic, copper and mercury. The EPA itself accidentally released this massive flow of waste from the King Mine, abandoned in the 1920s.

Consequences have been far-reaching. The Animas River provides water to residents of Colorado, New Mexico and Utah who live along its banks, and is an important source of irrigation for farmers. The disastrous magnitude of this spill was immediately evident, even to the casual observer.

As the EPA labors to address the fallout of this extensive spill, containment and remediation are matters of utmost importance, obviously. The federal government recently announced plans to open a temporary treatment system on Oct. 14. Early cleanup response to this incident included the construction of plastic-lined retention ponds to pump in and contain some of the tainted water before it spreads further.

These liners are part of a diverse and prolific assortment of products that contribute significantly to the process of spill remediation whenever an environmental accident occurs.

Liners for temporary ponds

Heavy-duty pond and lagoon liners are made of reinforced PVC and other materials that prevent seepage into the ground. They are designed to hold water, sludge and waste, depending on the nature of the incident.

One remediation method in retention ponds involves deploying a series of floating PVC curtains in a baffle pattern. The baffles are positioned in a staggered configuration, forcing the flow of water to move from one side of the pond to the other. The action sets up a natural electrical charge that promotes settling of the toxic particles.

Oil booms

Spills come in many types, and so do spill remediation products. If the accident is an oil spill on the water, special containment booms are designed to surround it quickly before it fans out into other areas. Made of expanded polyethylene foam and PVC plastic, the anchored boom floats to form a ring-like barrier that protects the rest of the waters and facilitates cleanup. Special absorbent booms not only encompass the spill, but also help soak it up at the perimeter. Fire-resistant booms allow for the process of in-situ burning, in which the crew ignites the oil spill to burn it off safely.

Various boom models are on the market to address the conditions at deployment, whether the water is calm, fast or open.

Dewatering products

Dewatering bags and tubes can often be useful on a spill site. Cleanup workers fill the bags with contaminated water under a stringent monitoring process. The filtered water gradually passes through the sides of the bag, leaving the sediment and pollutants behind.



Chemical treatments are available that promote flocculation, a process that causes fine particulates to clump in masses for easier cleanup. The treatment is sometimes added while the contaminated water is in a dewatering bag or tube.

Washing down vehicles

One area of cleanup not always readily apparent is the need to keep vehicles on the site from spreading contaminants. As contaminated trucks and other vehicles undergo a wash-down, it's crucial to have portable spill berms positioned underneath to catch the water for safe disposal. These berms are shallow holding units with walls that bounce back, so a vehicle can drive over them for a wash-down.

Tanks, incinerators

Downstream from the spill site, it is imperative that there be storage available for drinking water, fuel or waste. Many different sizes of pillow tanks (or flexible storage containers) are available, simple to transport and store. They range in size from 25 to 210,000 gallons. Onion tanks – named for their distinctive shape – are easy to deploy, with their self-rising and self-supporting walls. Storage tanks made of steel, fiberglass or plastic provide more long-term storage of liquids.

When it comes time to dispose of items that have been contaminated with pollutants during the cleanup, portable incinerators get the job done. Ridding the site of such items without spreading the contamination is a vital part of the process. 

Contact us

A spill is obviously an extremely unwelcome event. But tools such as those in the Kraken and Triton product lines of GEI Works help make restoration possible. Whether it’s a small oil spill on a lake or 3 million gallons of waste released into a river, GEI Works has many products helpful in addressing the situation.

Contact the experts at GEI Works for more information. Call (+1) 772-646-0597 or toll free at (888) 701-9889.

Spill Containment Products | Secondary Containment Berm

When working on oil fields or mining locations, there are often several items that have the potential to leak while in operation. One way to deal with this issue of secondary containment is through the use of the secondary spill berm. Unlike a liner or other ground protector, the spill berm often includes walls that help to completely contain liquids that may leak or seep out of various parts.

Secondary Containment Berm Structure

A secondary containment berm can come in many different styles or constructions. Some berms require a manual installation of the aluminum angle brackets, while other berms simply include foam walls that can be driven over. In general, a berm will typically include a liner and berm wall that allows for complete containment of your products.

Secondary Containment Berm in Oil Fields

While the secondary spill berm is available in several different styles, a great option for oil fields would be the aluminum angle model. When dealing with leaks or machinery, the aluminum angle berm can offer the increased benefit of rigid or firm walls that help to properly contain liquids that can leak from valves, hydraulic lines, or pumps. Additionally, berms offer long-term use that helps to successfully contain items for extended periods of time.
During hydraulic fracturing or other oil, gas, and mining operations, berms can be used in several different areas under parts, tools, storage vessels and more. Containment berms have been placed in many locations including under the following:

• Pumps
• Valves
• Storage Tanks
• Frac Tanks
• Water Tanks
• Vehicles
• Machinery
• Tools

Aluminum angle berms have been used as a drive through unit by adjusting a wall of the berm to allow vehicles to drive over the unit. In order to drive your vehicle onto the containment area, aluminum angles would need to be removed from the entrance wall of the berm. This will allow the wall to lie flat for vehicles to drive over. Once your object is in place, angles can be inserted back into the wall to reform the berm wall.

Benefits of a Containment Berm

The spill containment berm is an economical way to help you stay in compliance and protect liquids from seeping into the ground during the oil field process. When compared to other ground liners or secondary containment options, the containment berm offers the additional benefit of walls to contain large amounts of liquids.
Use of these berms can help protect the ground from pollution, quickly contain spills, and provide secondary containment for storage items.

Spill Containment | What are Oil Booms And How are they used?

As oil spills continue to occur in oceans, rivers, and lakes around the world, increasing environmental concerns are raised as to how to properly clean up and contain these spills. One of the most frequently used items during this process in an oil containment boom. These booms vary in variety and can include absorbents, flotations and more.

What is an Oil Containment Boom?

An oil containment boom is essentially a floating barrier that is deployed around spills to help temporarily contain oil as cleanup efforts are being implemented. These booms are wide-spread in their styles and can include the ability to absorb oil as it is being contained. The purpose of these booms is contain oil to prevent further spreading and contamination, as well as concentrate oil to a specific location to help ease cleanup process.

Oil Boom Styles:

Floating Boom: The floating boom is designed specifically to contain oil. These booms can be inflated with air, used with a built-in foam flotation device, or built with a net system.  These booms can effectively contain oil and prevent it from spreading to the surrounding areas.

Deployment Methods

When containing an oil spill, booms can be deployed in many different methods. Some of the most commonly used tactics include containment, deflection, and exclusion.

Containment: Oil booms used for containment are a common method for water locations that have moving water. These booms are placed around oil spills to contain them and prevent further spreading. Booms should be installed around the spill barrier and deployed perpendicular to the spill for the best level of containment.

Deflection: When containment is not possible, booms are often deployed for deflection. This method includes deploying an oil boom along a spill to deflect the oil to a desired cleanup area. Rather than deploying this boom perpendicular to the spill, these booms should be deployed at a slight angle to help move the oil to shorelines where it will be easier to manage and cleanup.

Exclusion: This type of deployment is used to exclude oil from polluting particularly sensitive areas. This can include areas like under bridges, marshlands or other water sources and wetlands. This type of deployment includes places booms around the area in need of protection, acting as a kind of barrier to prevent oil from spreading this location.

For more information on boom deployment, view Oil Spill Training.

Booms are often successfully used with a boom reel to both increase storage safety and speed up the deployment process.

Oil Spill Cleanup Products

After an oil spill has been contained to a specific area, cleanup often includes the use of several different oil spill cleanup products including skimmers, vacuums and absorbents. These products are typically used on the surface of the water to help absorb or skim oil for later disposal.