The Grimsvotn Volcano appears to be losing intensity and the ash clouds are clearing, so Europe’s new guidelines appeared to have passed this small test. Likewise the Army Corps continues to be able to control the diversion of overflow into the Atchfalaya River Basin to avert the collapse of river levees. Better severe weather forecasting has given people up to 20 minute warning before these most recent tornadoes. All these situations make the point that we live on a rapidly changing planet but technology and lots of money has allowed us to partially mitigate the worst effects of natural disasters. It will be interesting to see how society continues to deal with such potential disasters.
Administrative Note: This has been an almost unprecendentedly active few weeks. I’m sorry if you were flooded with posts as I tried to add insight to the many natural disasters happening at the same time. Several of our posts became the basis for OPED pieces in the Boston Globe and Christian Science Monitor. I appreciate your many comments and will try to contain myself to one post a day. Hopefully we will get a break from the strictly topical situations and can turn our attention to more longterm problems and solutions. Whew!!
Bill Sargent books are available through http://www.strawberryhillpress.com.
