DOCSLIB.ORG

Public Comments on County of Hawai'i's Initial Action Plan For

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Public Comments on County of Hawai'i's Initial Action Plan For Public Comments on County of Hawai‘i’s initial Action Plan for Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery Funds The County of Hawai‘i received 93 written comments during the 30-day public comment period for its initial Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery Action Plan that was submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The comments are listed below in chronological order with personal information redacted. Following the comment period, HUD provided additional clarification on how duplication of benefits (such as insurance payouts and Federal assistance programs) would be handled. *** Looking for more information about the voluntary buyout and if anyone as started a list that we need to get on etc I think this is a well organized plan. I would however like to know if the state has looked at the impact on small business and market vendors. We are the heart beat of the island keeping the markets going but since the lava flow many market vendors have suffered. Is their any funding or grants that can be created to support and help maintain market vendors? Does this include homes that were not permitted? I know that you do not have your plan approved yet but I wanted to get on the list somehow and make sure you have my information. I have 2 parcels of land on Hawaii at Leilani Estates. I am currently in the military stationed in Virginia and was planning on retiring and building there. Unfortunately our land is now inaccessible due to the lava covering our road and partially covered in lava. "I have two tax keys (9.6 acres combined) of agricultural land in an isolated area. The buyout plan seems to only include residential zone land. I was planning to build a single family home on my ag land and farm. I would like to see all landowners included in the buyout option, not just 'residential' zoned properties. I am currently renting elsewhere in Puna (not in the impacted area) and paying a large seller financed mortgage for my land in the isolated area. Please consider expanding your priority list to include agricultural land with no buildings (yet). ############### ################ I own a House in Leilani Estates. It sit Four streets up from fissure 8. It is unliveable with the insurance company. And all this happen during the Volcano eruptions. So we are still displace. If we are qualified please let me know. Thank You! ######################## 1 | Page First of all mahalo nui for this very very much needed help after my complete loss of home and business on Hinalo street. No insurance and living on FEMA has been beyond difficult however I do now have new property in Hawaiian Shores area. I will need every cent possible to actually build something. I am hoping to get at least a percentage of what the property and permitted structure were valued at not to mention the extra cabins fully furnished and large gym filled with amazing fitness equipment all lost. Please and thank you I had to relocate from my home in 2014 because the lava came 60 ft from my home. I was forced to leave with my family. I planed to relocate to my property in Nanawale when I recovered. I was forced to move to California where I had family to help me. When the flow occurred again I was unable to start rebuilding plans. Will funds be available to me? Good Afternoon. Thank you for putting together an easy and complete summary. I have one question. A large part of my loss was personal property inside the house that we could not remove. Insurance covered only a portion of this. My total real property loss was about $100,000 above what was covered by insurance. The personal property loss was an additional $40,000 above insurance. I am sure many others have similar situations. Will the personal property losses be part of the recovery? Thank you. Will non citizens be considered for the property buyout program? Thank you ################################# Our home in Leilani Estates was lost to the eruption on May 25, 2018. Fortunately, we had insurance coverage and they paid us promptly for the loss. Fortunately, we had insurance coverage and they paid us promptly for the loss. That payment covered the structure (primary residence) and outer buildings plus contents, but nothing for the land. Are we entitled to apply for the buyout program to “sell” the land to the program? Our house burned down in the 2018 eruption. The insurance paid us for our loss. Is this recovery fund for buying back the land? It is under fissure 8. Mahalo Hi, I just read this article: https://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2020/07/21/buyouts-for-properties- impacted-by-2018-eruption-supported-in-new-plan/?fbclid=IwAR36r1S3a3LjPs5y7- 3xai0Qy104_w3EsafXY4XMxfY4REl-c9j5Q8o4X3o I lost my home, farm, and clinic to the 2018 flow. My parcel TMK number is ##############. My question is regarding "assessed value of the property" described in the article: What does "property" include? Does it include one's house in addition to the value of the land and improvements such as bulldozing and orchards? My home was still under construction and about 90% completed so if the value of the home is included in "property," a fair and 2 | Page accurate assessment would need to be made for the stage of completion. Also, I had no home owner's insurance. Hope to hear back and thank you. Aloha- I would love to talk to someone that could help me out with this process. To see if it would be a good choice for me. Thank you A lot of us are misplaced, and continue to be displaced. The gift of these funds is a gift of our lives back. We lost our homes, our lives, our way of making a living. We lost our sense of being, sense of purpose. We lost our compass. We are looking to local and federal government to help us regain what we lost. A modest home, sense of security. This is a comment from the President of Royal Garden subdivision and Community Association. I see nothing about Royal Garden subdivision, yet we had request Condemning of The whole subdivision in 2016, Mayor Kim agreed on doing so. A group of rep's have met us over and over nothing was yet too be ready to go. We have been destroyed for 35 years and nothing like this was ever offered, and by law it should have...April J. Of long term planning, knows about this! Dear Sir/ Madam: I totally disagree with this program. Really... my tax dollars will be given to citizens who either lost their home, lot or received damage to their home due to the 2018 Kilauea flow. This is bullshit. Aloha. Mahalo for the time to respond and for your dliigent efforts. There is a lot here to unpack. Just a few thoughts, and sorry I offer no solutions to my initial reflections at this time: First, if residents, small businesses and farmers etc. knew what roads might be opened in the near future, it would surely affect their decisions on the buy out and relocation proposals. Roads before Buy Outs! That said: *Buy outs proposed for 300 parcels with median before disaster value stated as 316,000 (mine was valued at much more) and only offering 230,000 for buy out? Then cleared of all structures, then becomes "non developable land???" * Seems to me this action plan has irreversible implications for lower Puna, much of which is in Lava Zone 1 and 2. If folks still own their land, they should be allowed to return and rebuild if they so choose, with support from the County and its permitting processes. Yet this implicitly states no HUD or CRDGB funds can be used in Lava Zones 1 and 2. *I find it interesting that there is no insurance data available as that would definitely affect the financial outlook on the amounts offered in the buy outs. If FEMA, insurance and other matching funds will be subtracted from the buy out prices offered, this data will need to come forth. *There is a big focus here on folks relocating to Town Centers. Our Puna communities are OUR centers. We are very self-sufficient and choose a rural lifestyle, Pahoa is our closest town center. Many of us do not want to move into newly created neighborhoods and new subdivisions. *This plan mentions widespread community input...yes,I have attended most of the many talk story sessions and meetings, as well as most County Council meetings, Yet, it seems that perhaps the main desires of the communities are not really being heard...I believe the County agenda is paramount and predetermined. Many thanks to Douglas Le and his team for coming onboard and being 3 | Page willing to come to the table. *I attended the Youth Speak Out panel held at PHIS There were 3 students on that panel who mainly responded to the question, "What does Puna Strong mean to you?" The large audience that was reported in the media was really only 5 students and their parents, 2 teachers, 1 Counselor, and 2 Principals The next day did have a bit better attendance and had more particular data recorded on whiteboards. I would not call this active community youth engagement. *I need to better define a few terms...who is granter and grantee mentioned? (County, projects, individuals)?? What is Slum and Blight? *Relocation concerns state that no one can ask for assistance if they are now permanently relocated.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • KT 7-8-2014 Layout 1
    SUBSCRIPTION THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014 SHAWWAL 11, 1435 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Health Them’s fighting Obama, African Khan’s century Ministry words! The leaders talk rescues downplays politics of security, Pakistan in Ebola threat3 place15 names governance26 first20 Test US sanctions ‘terror Max 46º Min 29º financiers’ in Kuwait High Tide 07:08 & 21:59 Low Tide Trio accused of supporting Islamic State, Nusra Front 01:16 & 15:14 40 PAGES NO: 16247 150 FILS WASHINGTON: The United States 41, and Hajjaj Fahd Hajjaj Muhammad three have been named a “specially desig- Anizi had worked in the past with Al- imposed sanctions on three men, two of Shabib Al-Ajmi, 26, of raising money for nated global terrorist” by the United Qaeda facilitators based in Iran, and that Lawyer slams them Kuwaiti, yesterday, accusing them of the Al-Nusra Front, a jihadist group fight- States government, which accuses them the younger Ajmi had tried to get fellow providing money, fighters and weapons ing in Syria. Both men are said to be of soliciting donations for militants from Kuwaitis into leadership positions in Al- fatwa against to extremists in Iraq and Syria. Under the Kuwaiti, and the elder Ajmi’s street wealthy donors in the Gulf region. “We Nusra. The latest US terrorism report on order, issued by the US Treasury, any address in Kuwait was given. and our international partners, including the country noted “increased reports of assets the men hold in the United States A third man, Abdulrahman Khalaf Al- the Kuwaiti government, need to act Kuwait-based private individuals funnel- ‘The 99’ series are frozen and American citizens and resi- Anizi, whose nationality was not disclosed more urgently and effectively to disrupt ing charitable donations and other funds By Nawara Fattahova dents are “generally prohibited” from and who is thought to be around 40 years these terrorist financing efforts,” said to violent extremist groups outside the doing business with them.
    [Show full text]
  • 2015 Service Efforts & Accomplishments Report
    2015 Service Efforts & Accomplishments Report Office of the City Auditor • City and County of Honolulu • State of Hawai‘i Report No. 16-1 / March 2016 (rev. 03/15/16) You are welcome to keep this report if it is useful to you. If you no longer need it, please return to: Office of the City Auditor City and County of Honolulu 1001 Kamokila Blvd., Suite 216 Kapolei, HI 96707 We maintain an inventory of past audit reports, and your cooperation will help us save on extra copying costs. If you need copies of this report, please contact us at (808) 768-3134 or [email protected] Our reports are also available on the web at: http://www.honolulu.gov/auditor Cover Photo Courtesy of Department of Planning and Permitting and LiveWorkPlayAiea.com City and County of Honolulu Office of the City Auditor March 7, 2016 Honorable City Council Honolulu, Hawai‘i City and County of Honolulu Service Efforts and Accomplishments Report (FY 2015) The Office of the City Auditor is pleased to present its sixth annual Service Efforts and Accomplishments (SEA) Report for the City and County of Honolulu. The report is intended to be informational, and provides data about the costs, quality, quantity, and timeliness of city services. A variety of comparisons are included to provide the Honolulu City Council, city employees, and the public with an independent, impartial assessment of performance trends that can be used to strengthen governmental accountability and transparency, governmental efficiency and effectiveness, the delivery of public services, and to provide data for future decision making.
    [Show full text]
  • Climatology, Variability, and Return Periods of Tropical Cyclone Strikes in the Northeastern and Central Pacific Ab Sins Nicholas S
    Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Master's Theses Graduate School March 2019 Climatology, Variability, and Return Periods of Tropical Cyclone Strikes in the Northeastern and Central Pacific aB sins Nicholas S. Grondin Louisiana State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses Part of the Climate Commons, Meteorology Commons, and the Physical and Environmental Geography Commons Recommended Citation Grondin, Nicholas S., "Climatology, Variability, and Return Periods of Tropical Cyclone Strikes in the Northeastern and Central Pacific asinB s" (2019). LSU Master's Theses. 4864. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses/4864 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Master's Theses by an authorized graduate school editor of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. CLIMATOLOGY, VARIABILITY, AND RETURN PERIODS OF TROPICAL CYCLONE STRIKES IN THE NORTHEASTERN AND CENTRAL PACIFIC BASINS A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in The Department of Geography and Anthropology by Nicholas S. Grondin B.S. Meteorology, University of South Alabama, 2016 May 2019 Dedication This thesis is dedicated to my family, especially mom, Mim and Pop, for their love and encouragement every step of the way. This thesis is dedicated to my friends and fraternity brothers, especially Dillon, Sarah, Clay, and Courtney, for their friendship and support. This thesis is dedicated to all of my teachers and college professors, especially Mrs.
    [Show full text]
  • November 2014
    Associate-Only The Associate’s $25 + Savings Inside! Guide to Living Better NOVEMBER 2014 Green Tea Pie “Have fun and always show __________.” (See Page 123.) PAGE 90 Fewer than 300 calories per serving Made with only six ingredients Raisin Pie PAGE 88 Vinegar Pie PAGE 91 Strawberry- Thank Yogurt Pie PAGE 95 Canadian Meat Pie Hungry Man’s Cheeseburger Pie PAGE 93 You PAGE 92 Associates from across the country share amazing recipes and for stories of doing good. PAGE 67 Just 10 minutes of prep time Free Magazine! Cherry- Coconut- Cheese Pie Tofu Pie PAGE 89 PAGE 94 Sharing There are Vinegar Pie thousands of Need a rolling spice options, pin? You can starting at less Raisin Pie find one for than $3, on less than $6 on All our pie Walmart.com. Walmart.com. ingredients are available in stores Find these Get this or online. Save 10 Mainstays Cake Boss percent with your measuring measuring associate spoons in cup, and discount! stores—and more than more than For more recipes and advice, visit 100 30 Walmart’s Holiday others online, others online, Food Center at starting at less starting at less instoresnow.walmart. than $5/set. than $1. com/Food-Center- Holiday-Food.aspx. Green Tea Pie Find roughly 22 pie plates online, starting at less than $15. Cherry- Cheese Pie Buy these Mainstays bowls and more than Save More Strawberry- Yogurt Pie 160 other sets online, starting at Walmart at less than $6. It takes a lot of ingredients, bowls, plates, measuring cups, and more to prepare all the food you’ll see in these pages—and There are all of it is available in Walmart stores and more than one hundred through Walmart.com.
    [Show full text]
  • Dry Season, Spring 2017
    Hawai'i Ho'ohekili Skywarn Weather Spotter Newsletter National Weather Service, Honolulu, HI Dry Season Edition, 2017 Issued — June 2017 Spotter Newsletter Volume 15 Inside this edition: ENSO prediction, Hawaii drought, King Tides, the Central Pa- cific Hurricane outlook, and more!!! ENSO-neutral and El Niño are nearly equally favored during the Northern Hemisphere summer and fall 2017. ENSO-neutral persisted during April, with near- average sea surface temperatures (SSTs) observed across the central equatorial Pacific and above-average SSTs in the eastern Pacific (Fig. 1). The ocean and atmosphere system remains consistent with ENSO-neutral. We’re finally starting to get through the spring barrier, when climate models have a harder time making successful forecasts. Forecasters estimate the chance of El Niño forming is about equal to the chance that neutral conditions will continue: both are just shy of 50% through the fall. Unlike two years ago, when the signal that a strong El Niño was developing was clear, most of our prediction tools are suggesting very borderline conditions, making it a tough forecast. Quotes from Two Scientists Michelle: Here’s the latest NOAA/NCEP CFSv2 model forecast (Fig 2). It’s bailing on its previously predicted El Niño. And it’s not the only one. The Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) said the other day they’re 50-50 on El Niño developing. The UK Meteorological Office released a new run of their model, and it shows about half the members sub 0.5°C (rough threshold for El Niño). The Bureau of Meteorology in Australia updated their discussion and they noted the models tend to be retreating as well.
    [Show full text]
  • Anomalous Oceanic Conditions in the Central and Eastern North Pacific Ocean During the 2014 Hurricane Season and Relationships T
    Journal of Marine Science and Engineering Article Anomalous Oceanic Conditions in the Central and Eastern North Pacific Ocean during the 2014 Hurricane Season and Relationships to Three Major Hurricanes 1, , 1 2 Victoria L. Ford * y , Nan D. Walker and Iam-Fei Pun 1 Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Coastal Studies Institute Earth Scan Laboratory, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA 2 Graduate Institute of Hydrological and Oceanic Sciences, National Central University, Taoyuan 320, Taiwan * Correspondence: [email protected] Current institution: Climate Science Lab, Department of Geography, Texas A&M University, y College Station, TX 77845, USA. Received: 27 February 2020; Accepted: 14 April 2020; Published: 17 April 2020 Abstract: The 2014 Northeast Pacific hurricane season was highly active, with above-average intensity and frequency events, and a rare landfalling Hawaiian hurricane. We show that the anomalous northern extent of sea surface temperatures and anomalous vertical extent of upper ocean heat content above 26 ◦C throughout the Northeast and Central Pacific Ocean may have influenced three long-lived tropical cyclones in July and August. Using a variety of satellite-observed and -derived products, we assess genesis conditions, along-track intensity, and basin-wide anomalous upper ocean heat content during Hurricanes Genevieve, Iselle, and Julio. The anomalously northern surface position of the 26 ◦C isotherm beyond 30◦ N to the north and east of the Hawaiian Islands in 2014 created very high sea surface temperatures throughout much of the Central Pacific. Analysis of basin-wide mean conditions confirm higher-than-average storm activity during strong positive oceanic thermal 2 anomalies.
    [Show full text]
  • BIISC 2014 HISC Final Report
    Hawaii%Invasive%Species%Council%Grants:%C41282,%C41284% Detection%and%Control%of%Invasive%Species%on%the%Island%of%Hawaii%and%% Stakeholder@led%control%of%invasive%albizia%on%Hawaiʻi%Island:%A%Demonstration%Project% Title:'Detection'and'Control'of'Invasive'Species'! on'the'Island'of'Hawaii,'and'the'Stakeholder;led'control'of' invasive'albizia'on'Hawai`i'Island:'A'Demonstration'Project' Organization:'Big!Island!Invasive!Species!Committee' Award(s):'$309,000!and!$35,000! ! Introduction:' The! Big! Island! Invasive! Species! Committee! works! to! prevent,! detect,! and! control! the! highest! risk! invasive! species! threats! to! the! Big! Island! environment,! economy,! and! way! of! life.! ! Our! motto,!Hoala%i%ka%Maka,!translates!to!“Healing!the!land,!Awakening!the!people.”!!BIISC!works!islandH wide!to!educate!and!empower!Big!Island!communities!to!take!direct!action!in!their!neighborhoods,!and! advocate! for! proactive! statewide! management! of! invasive! species.! ! ! In! all! that! we! do,! our! guiding! principle!is!service!to!the!land!and!the!people!of!Hawaii.!The!Hawaii!Invasive!Species!Council!provides! consistent! and! much! needed! support,! ensuring! that! the! highly! trained,! experienced! professionals! working!at!BIISC!may!continue!on!our!mission.!!! ! BIISC!thanks!the!Hawaii!Invasive!Species!Council!for!funding!45%!of!our!core!operating!budget!this!year.!!! ! Four!primary!project!areas!were!funded!by!the!two!grants:! 1)! Expansion! of! early! detection! surveys! from! roadsides! to! nurseries;! 2)! Developing! a! professional!
    [Show full text]
  • Hurricane Iselle Gains Strength As It Nears Hawaii (Update) 6 August 2014, by Jennifer Sinco Kelleher
    Hurricane Iselle gains strength as it nears Hawaii (Update) 6 August 2014, by Jennifer Sinco Kelleher The approaching storms are prompting officials to close schools, residents to stock up on supplies and tourists to change travel plans. Shoppers lift cases of bottled water in preparation for a hurricane and tropical storm heading toward Hawaii at the Iwilei Costco in Honolulu on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014. Two big storms so close together is rare in the eastern Pacific. Hurricane Iselle could make landfall by Friday and Tropical Storm Julio could hit two or three days later, weather officials said. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy) This image provided by NOAA taken Wednesday Aug. 6, 2014 shows Hurricane Iselle, center, and tropical storm Julio, right. Though it's not clear how damaging the storms could be, many in Hawaii aren't taking any Hawaii is preparing for what could be the first chances as they wait for Hurricane Iselle to make landfall later this week and Tropical Storm Julio potentially hitting hurricane to hit the state in more than 20 years as a few days later. (AP Photo/NOAA) weather officials say an approaching storm isn't weakening as previously predicted. Hurricane Iselle was expected to weaken into a © 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. tropical storm before reaching Hawaii's Big Island Thursday. But weather officials now say it has intensified and is forecast to maintain hurricane strength or become a strong tropical storm as it approaches the island. The storm is expected to bring heavy rains, high surf and damaging winds.
    [Show full text]
  • Technology Development for the Biological Control of Invasive Native and Non-Native Plants New Project Proposal
    Technology Development for the Biological Control of Invasive Native and Non-Native Plants New Project Proposal 1. PROJECT TITLE: Leveraging Commercial and Agro-Forestry Expertise to Identify New Agents for Bio- logical Control of Albizia (Falcataria moluccana) 2. PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS: Kenneth P Puliafico, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, PO Box 236, Volcano, HI 96785; Ph: 808-967-7122, Fax: 808-967-7158; kppuliafico@ fs.fed.us Tracy Johnson, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, PO Box 236, Volcano, HI 96785; Ph: 808-967-7122, Fax: 808-967-7158; [email protected]. us 3. COOPERATORS AND OTHER PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS: Flint Hughes, US Forest Service, Southwest Research Station, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, 60 Nowelo St., Hilo, HI 96720, Ph: 808-933-8121 ext. 117, Fax: 808-933-8120; [email protected] Mohsen Ramadan, Mann Ko, State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Plant Pest Control Branch, 1428 South King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814, [email protected] Joshua Atwood, Hawaii Invasive Species Council, Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife/DLNR. 1151 Punchbowl St., Rm. 325, Honolulu, HI 96813; Ph: 808-586-0917 Fax: 808-587-0160 4. AMOUNT REQUESTED $66,000 FY 2015 $32,000 FY 2016 $98,000 Total Project Leveraging This proposal expands upon a project newly funded by the State of Hawaii initiating exploration in albizia’s native range for biocontrol agents ($100K). With additional funds we propose to expand the area of study, incorporating commercial and agroforestry knowledge to potentially fast-track albizia enemies for biocontrol.
    [Show full text]
  • Hurricane Iselle Information from CPHC Advisory 31, 11:00 AM HST Thursday August 7, 2014 Hurricane Iselle Is Weaker but Remains a Significant Threat to Hawaii
    HURRICANE TRACKING ADVISORY eVENT™ Hurricane Iselle Information from CPHC Advisory 31, 11:00 AM HST Thursday August 7, 2014 Hurricane Iselle is weaker but remains a significant threat to Hawaii. On the forecast track Iselle is expected to pass over the Big Island tonight and pass south of the smaller islands on Friday. Weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Iselle may weaken to a tropical storm tonight. Intensity Measures Position & Heading U.S. Landfall (NHC) Max Sustained Wind 75 mph Position Relative to 195 miles ESE of Speed: (category 1) Land: Hilo Hawaii Tonight around 8 PM HST Est. Time & Region: on Hawaii’s Big Island Min Central Pressure: 991 mb Coordinates: 18.9 N, 151.45 W Trop. Storm Force Est. Max Sustained Wind 70 - 75 mph (Strong Trop. 140 miles Bearing/Speed: WNW or 285 degrees at 16 mph Winds Extent: Speed: Storm or Category 1) Forecast Summary The current Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) forecast map (below left) shows Iselle making landfall Thursday evening around 8PM HST on Hawaii’s Big Island at category 1 hurricane strength. The windfield map (below right), based on the CPHC track forecast, shows Iselle bringing hurricane storm strength winds to the Big Island and tropical storm strength winds to most of the rest of Hawaii. Conditions will steadily deteriorate over the Big Island this afternoon, with tropical storm conditions expected to arrive well before dark. Hurricane conditions are expected for portions of the Big Island tonight. Tropical storm conditions are expected over Maui County tonight, and for Oahu late tonight and Friday.
    [Show full text]
  • 2014 Sport Annual Report
    National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Short-Term Prediction Research and Transition Center 2014 SPoRT Annual Report Preface Calendar Year 2014 has seen new beginnings as project leadership has shifted to a set of rising young scientists in the organization. At the end of the year, PI Gary Jedlovec stepped into a senior scientist position in the Earth Science Office at Marshall Space Flight Center and is now acting in a strategy and advisory role for the project. Mr. Jason Burks, Dr. Andrew Molthan, and Mr. Bradley Zavodsky have assumed co-lead responsibilities for SPoRT. This past year has been a very successful for SPoRT as measured by the number of successful transitions of research products to operational end users, the large number of peer-reviewed publications being accepted for publication, and a broader community recognition of SPoRT as a “go-to place” in the community for transitioning experimental satellite products and capabilities to operations. While the number of new end users collaborating with SPoRT has grown over the past year, SPoRT continues to have very strong interactions with existing partners at both Weather Service Forecast Offices and NOAA National Centers. We look forward to continuing the strong legacy of the SPoRT Project. This 2014 Annual Report provides a comprehensive update on the many of the SPoRT accom- plishments over the last year. We are very appreciative of the efforts of Mr. Jonathan Case who exhibited strong leadership in guiding the development of the report and acted as the technical editor for all the articles. This report is as much a reflection of the SPoRT team’s individual professional accomplishments as it is those of the SPoRT project in general.
    [Show full text]
  • Iselle Becomes a Category 4 Hurricane As It Closes in on Hawaii
    Beat: News Iselle becomes a Category 4 hurricane as it closes in on Hawaii -, 04.08.2014, 18:04 Time USPA News - Hurricane Iselle unexpectedly strengthened into a major category four hurricane over the Pacific Ocean on early Monday, and computer models still expect the tropical cyclone will hit the Hawaiian islands later this week as a tropical storm, U.S. forecasters said. Iselle continued to strengthen rapidly overnight, reaching category four status on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of intensity with maximum sustained winds near 140 miles (220 kilometers), according to an update from the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC). Forecasters had previously expected Iselle to start weakening on Monday morning. "Iselle continues to intensify and has reached category 4 strength," said NHC hurricane specialist Robbie Berg. "Since Iselle has some characteristics of an annular hurricane, it is likely to change little in intensity during the next day or so, and even when it begins to weaken, the trend should be gradual." Iselle is expected to experience an increase in vertical shear and move over colder waters on Wednesday, which should induce quicker weakening at that time. Forecasters now expect Iselle to weaken to a Category 2 hurricane on Tuesday and lose hurricane status by early Thursday as it nears the Hawaiian islands. "Significantly less favorable thermodynamic factors, such as increasingly drier and more stable air and water temperatures just below 26 degrees Celsius (78.8 degrees Fahrenheit), should result in weakening while Iselle nears the Hawaiian Islands," said NHC hurricane specialist Todd Kimberlain. "An accelerated weakening may take place as Iselle makes its closest approach to the Hawaiian chain when environmental conditions become even more hostile." Updated computer models continue to put Iselle`s expected path through the Hawaiian islands, though the forecast cone has moved slightly north when compared to Sunday`s forecast.
    [Show full text]