RESPONDING WITH SPEED
New research center promises storm solutions along the Gulf Coast

Weeks after the high winds of Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, extensive flooding in the city continued to affect thousands of citizens. Severe storms can cause persistent flooding all along the low-lying Texas and Louisiana Gulf coasts, from New Orleans to Corpus Christi and as far inland as Houston and Baton Rouge. To address this pressing regional concern, LSU has joined a multi-university effort to better predict the combined threats of storm surge and heavy rainfall, while improving flood warning systems, public education and evacuation strategies across the Gulf Coast.

Vulnerable Louisiana coastal marshland

The new initiative, known as Severe Storm Prediction, Education, and Evacuation from Disaster (or SPEED), will operate jointly at Rice University and LSU as the SPEED Gulf Coast Center. The Center will combine the expertise of researchers from multiple relevant disciplines at LSU, Rice University, University of Houston, University of Oklahoma, and University of Texas.

Leading this effort is Philip Bedient, Herman Brown Professor of civil and environmental engineering at Rice University. Participating from LSU will be associate dean of engineering David Constant, along with professors of civil and environmental engineering John Pardue, Brian Wolshon, and Ivor Van Heerden.

ON THE WEB:
SPEED Center's proposal

from Summer 2007 Issue