Updated list of UF sources available to discuss Ivan, Hurricane

September 16, 2004

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In the wake of Hurricane Ivan’s assault on the Gulf Coast, the following University of Florida sources are available to speak to the news media about a variety of storm- and hurricane-related topics.

Utility outages and power distribution: Paul Sotkiewicz, director of energy studies at UF’s Public Utility Research Center, has expertise in energy economics and electric utilities, and can answer questions about power distribution, electricity restoration and underground utility lines. 352-392-7842, paul.sotkiewicz@cba.ufl.edu.

Economic effects of hurricanes: David Denslow, director of the Economic Analysis Program for UF’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research and a distinguished service professor in the department of economics, can provide information about some aspects of the economic effects of hurricanes. Some of Denslow’s preliminary thoughts on the financial impact of Hurricane Charley on Florida, including speculations about the future growth of Punta Gorda, Fla., and the differences between hurricanes Charley and Andrew, can be viewed at http://www.bebr.ufl.edu. Denslow can be reached at 352-392-0171, ext. 340, or denslow@bebr.ufl.edu.

Consumer law, price gouging: Christopher Peterson, an assistant professor of law, is an authority on consumer law and price gouging. He is the author of the 2004 book “Taming the Sharks: Towards a Cure for the High Cost Credit Market.” 352-392-2211, petersonc@law.ufl.edu.

Wind speed and force: Kurt Gurley, an assistant professor of civil engineering, can provide information on ground-level hurricane wind speeds and wind forces on residential structures. 352-392-9537, ext. 1508, or kgurl@ce.ufl.edu.

Wind damage to structures and utilities: Ron Cook, a civil engineering professor, can discuss wind damage to buildings, the state’s hurricane-related building codes and how hurricanes affect utilities. 352-392-9537, ext. 1507, or rcook@ce.ufl.edu.

Minimizing Residential Windstorm Damage:

Bob Stroh is a research professor in the Rinker School of Building Construction and director of the Shimberg Center for Affordable Housing. He specializes in techniques and materials that minimize hurricane damage in new and existing homes. 800-259-5705 or stroh@ufl.edu.

Sharon Treen is a St. John’s County Extension Service agent and manager of the Windstorm Damage Mitigation Training and Demonstration Center in St. Augustine. The center serves as a resource for exhibits, literature and training classes on recommended building practices, including those related to protecting homes from the ravages of hurricanes. 904-823-4486 or streen@mail.ifas.ufl.edu.

Diane Franzen is a St. Lucie County Extension Service agent and manager of the Fort Pierce Windstorm Damage Education Center located in Fort Pierce. Each year Franzen updates the Personal Hurricane Survival Kit, which is distributed in conjunction with county emergency management services. 772-462-1660 or DCFranzen@mail.ifas.ufl.edu.

Hurricanes’ impact on beaches: Bob Dean, a UF graduate research professor emeritus in civil and coastal engineering, is one of the nation’s leading experts on beach erosion and has studied the effects of several hurricanes on Florida’s beaches. 352-392-9537, ext. 1430, or dean@coastal.ufl.edu.

Rebuilding/maintaining beaches: Deborah Miller, an associate professor of wildlife ecology and conservation based at UF’s West Florida Research and Education Center in Jay, has studied the best ways to rebuild sand dunes destroyed by hurricanes. 850-983-5216 or dlmi@ufl.edu.

Hurricanes and the insurance industry: David Nye, a professor of business and the director of the Florida Insurance Research Center, can answer questions related to hurricane damage and the insurance industry. 352-392-6649 or dye@ufl.edu.

Disaster preparedness and recovery: Carol Lehtola, an associate professor in the department of agricultural and biological engineering, is an expert on disaster preparedness and recovery information. 352-392-1864, ext. 223, or CJLehtola@ifas.ufl.edu.

Post-disaster stress management: Garret Evans, an associate professor of clinical psychology and director of UF’s National Rural Behavioral Health Center, specializes in disaster psychology and post-disaster stress management. 352-273-5125 or GDEvans@ifas.ufl.edu.

Mental health in disasters: Brenda Wiens, a research assistant professor and co-director of UF’s National Rural Behavioral Health Center, has expertise on the mental health effects of disasters and terrorism. 352-273-5120 or kbwiens@phhp.ufl.edu.

Demographic effects of hurricanes: Chris McCarty, the director of survey programs at UF’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research, can discuss the impact of hurricanes on community populations. McCarty co-authored a 1996 paper that found that Hurricane Andrew forced 353,000 Dade County residents from their homes temporarily and that almost 40,000 people left the county permanently as a result of the storm. 352-392-2908, ext. 101, or ufchris@ufl.edu.