PwC: Supply Chains Threatened by Six-Degree Global Warming

PwC: Supply Chains Threatened by Six-Degree Global Warming

Risk ready: New approaches to environmental and social change

Some 85 percent of companies have more complex supply chains as a result of globalization, and adjusted climate forecasts mean businesses should expect climate change to have an even more destructive effect than previously assumed on supply chains, assets and infrastructure, according to two reports from PricewaterhouseCoopers.

The first PwC report, 10 Minutes – Risk ready: New approaches to environmental and social change, says many companies now view preparation for climate change as not only an indicator of resilience, but also as a competitive advantage.

The report, published as the northeast begins recovering from Hurricane Sandy, says the ability to anticipate — and plan for — potential weather disasters is vital. Companies should embed sustainability practices into their business models to mitigate the risks associated with these major weather events.

Sandy Slows Deliveries, Cripples Supply Chains

Sandy Slows Deliveries, Cripples Supply Chains

Companies from Amazon to railroad firm CSX are warning customers to expect delays on shipments as Hurricane Sandy continues to back up supply chains and slow deliveries leading into the holiday season.

CSX told its customers to expect delays of at least 72 hours as trains in the Northeast continue operating slowly because of power outages.

Carrier delays would likely slow Amazon orders, the online shopping giant posted, and Better World Books said there may be a delay of five to 10 business days on orders shipped to the eastern United States, the Ohio Valley, Canada and western Europe.

The two join a host of other retailers such as Diane von Furstenberg that have told customers that closed shipping facilities, slowed transportation and massive power outage will mean longer waits on deliveries, the New York Times reports.

At REI’s SoHo store in New York, employees wearing headlamps and carrying flashlights led customers around in the dark after losing power on Oct. 29. Even after the power was restored Nov. 2, employees had to manually count and order merchandise, according to the Times.

Freeport Electric Preventing Fire as it Restores Power

On Thurs and Fri, Nov 1 & 2, some Freeport residents received notices in their mailboxes that power would be restored on Sat, Nov 3 at 10am.  Residents were instructed to have certified electricians come in and look at the electrical panels in their homes to ensure that it was safe to turn on the power.  Salt water damage to an electrical panel can easily lead to fire if current runs through the panel.

As of this morning, Sun, Nov 4, power has not yet been restored but Stage 1 (of 3 stages) of restoring power is currently underway.   

Stage 1 is that inspectors are going door to door and inpecting electrical panels.  If the property is deemed 'safe', a green sticker is placed on the outside of the house

Stage 2 will be electrical crews removing the electric meters from (cutting electricity to) any house without a green sticker 

Stage 3 will be deployment of fire trucks to areas where power is being restored just in case and turning on the power

Although residents would certainly like their power on sooner, they understand that this is perhaps time well spent.

What’s Really Happening In Blacked-Out Manhattan

Manhattan at night during the crisis.

Image: Manhattan at night during the crisis.

factcoexist.com - November 2nd, 2012 - Anya Kamenetz

The darkened stairwell of the tower on Broome Street on the Lower East Side is like a dripping, foul-smelling cave lit only by a few headlamps and flashlights. A group of eight 20- and 30-somethings are climbing to the top floor of the 23-story building to check on public housing residents who have been stuck without power or water since Monday night.

"Hello? Hello? We’re volunteers! Do you need help? Water? Agua? Ayuda?" The women do the talking in hopes that people won’t be intimidated. Theo, a resident on the 18th floor who escorts us up, says that this is a dangerous building in the best of times.

(VIEW COMPLETE STORY)

Country / Region Tags: 
Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 

Rockaway Thanksgiving

          (CLICK ON THE INVITATION BELOW FOR DETAILS AND FOR DONATE / VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP)

                                                 http://www.rockawaythanksgiving.com/

Rockaway Thanksgiving Meal Sites

submitted by Gary Vroegindewey - (This list is also available in attachment below - login required to view)

Enclosed are sites that have published Thanksgiving meals.  We recommend you contact for details on times/eligibility/availability.

Oceanside High School 3160 Skillman Ave Oceanside. 11-2 Oceanside Community Service and Interfaith Council. ***@***.***

Tomahawk District BSA dnner Nov 26 for their troop. ***@***.***. Seeking donations.

The Soup Ladies locatio TBA

Daily News Old Homestead Steak house. Bus transport.

Far Rockaway. 259 Doughty Road Inwood NY. 1-3. ***@***.***

Operation SurfinBird loc TBA

HipHop Summit Youth Thanksgiving Eve Feast 500 students and families Queens High School for Informatics, Research and Technology.

Far. Rockaway. Brian Piccolo Middle School volunteer Robin. 631 264 4980

Bethany Church 100 Main St. 1-4 516 599 5768

Dean Rich- St Raymonds Church Rectory 12-3. + emergency supplies

Occupy Far Rockaway 12 noon- 4 PM
Approx Beach 50 st and Edgemere

Susan's Perspective on Superstorm Sandy

This e-mail may be more stream of consciousness than anything else but I'll do my best to organize my thoughts.  I'll also include video links where I can.
  • Citizens did not follow the mandatory evacuation order because 
    • When they evacuated for Irene, they found that the places to which they evacuated were hit hard whereas the homes they left behind were fine.
    • Many residents live in highrises and feel that as long as the water doesn't reach their apartment, they'll be safe.  They stock up on batteries, food, water, and medication for a few days but not enough to sustain them for over a week without power.
    • Folks living in houses figured that if things got really bad, they could flee at the last minute.  They did not expect the water to flow in in such a violent fashion nor did they expect the water levels to rise as quickly nor as high as they did.  A friend of mine thought she was prepared because parked her car in her driveway facing outward.  I haven't been able to speak with her since Monday morning, but my guess is that her car is totaled and possibly has floated away.
Meeting / Event Tags: 
Country / Region Tags: 
Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 

In Hurricane’s Wake, Decisions Not to Evacuate Hospitals Raise Questions

Patients are taken to ambulances outside of Bellevue Hospital during an evacuation on Oct. 31, in New York. Bellevue Hospital continued to evacuate its patients on Wednesday after flooding inundated the basement and knocked out electricity. (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)

Image: Patients are taken to ambulances outside of Bellevue Hospital during an evacuation on Oct. 31, in New York. Bellevue Hospital continued to evacuate its patients on Wednesday after flooding inundated the basement and knocked out electricity. (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)

propublica.org - November 1st, 2012 - Sheri Fink

At 9:30 p.m. Monday, Eugene Tangney burst into a meeting of doctors at the command center for Long Island's North Shore-LIJ hospital system. Ceiling tiles creaked in the wind and television screens showed images of Hurricane Sandy slamming into New York City.

"NYU called," Tangney said. "They want to evacuate. I don't know how to help them right now. They're in a panic mode."

(VIEW COMPLETE ARTICLE)

Country / Region Tags: 
Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 

Superstorm Sandy: Surveying the Damage From the Sky

abcnews.go.com - November 1st, 2012