Urban sprawl and the tornadoes

[underpants]

Weather patterns, urban sprawl, human nature add up to extraordinary tornado death toll


Contributing to the massive loss of life is the growth of urban areas, suggested Marshall Shepherd, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Georgia.

“Historically, the central business districts of cities have not been hit that frequently,” he explained. But as you increase the land area covered by homes and businesses, he said, “you’re increasing the size of the dartboard.”

If the Tuscaloosa and Joplin tornadoes had each been a few miles to the south, on farmland, little would be heard about them, Ashley said, but when extremely violent tornadoes mingle with urban sprawl “you’re going to have a disaster.”

“A lot of it is complacency,” Ashley said. “The population seems to be becoming desensitized to nature. I don’t know why.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/weather-patterns-urban-sprawl-human-nature-add-up-to-extraordinary-tornado-death-toll/2011/05/28/AG57vPDH_story_1.html

[Renew Deal]

1. I think this has a lot to do with the death toll.

Same reason it was so high for Katrina and other events recently. There are just more people. Look at what happens when a typhoon hits China or Bangladesh. Lots of people killed and it's not just because of poor construction.

[underpants]

4. I had been wondering about this and stumbled onto the article

This, of course, is not to blame the people we just need to do a better job of planning including NOT okaying new neigborhoods just because there is a field there.

[high density]

2. Seems kind of obvious?

When you build a CVS and a gas station on every corner, you then have more CVS and gas stations exposed to potential natural disasters.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. So what's the answer? Where do you propose people live?

:shrug:

[underpants]

5. I think the answer is in better housing planning

just because there is an empty field it doesn't mean you have to okay new construction. Some new construction is needed of course but we already know that there is ample supply (really over supply) of homes and apartments. Building new ones is not needed.

I know that sounds like a over-control thing but there is a need to plan and sometimes say NO to building proposals.

[hedgehog]

7. Just as an added poiint, sprawl means more time spent getting around -

instead of shopping at a central downtown, we drive out to a mall. Compare the construction of those empty buildings down town with the typical disposable cement block construction we inflict on ourselves today. No one ever painted a picture of the local mall and hung it on a wall, except maybe the developer!

Even if the buildings are torn down, the footprint can be reused. The utilities are already in place. Many cities are doing this already, tearing down derelict housing and selling the lots for a nominal fee to people already living in the neighborhood. The lots can become space for a garage, eliminating on street parking; a site for a new house or simply added green space.

[underpants]

11. Two points

Short Pump Va - nothing was there when I moved to Richmond in 1994 other than Walmart. Now it has a high-end mall and is a complete nightmare to get around in. They had to build a completely new road and are constantly building overpasses to ...wait for it... GET PEOPLE TO THE MALL.

I used to administer HUD grants. CDBG and other programs do just what you say - keep neighborhoods from falling apart which also decreases crime.

[hedgehog]

15. Ironically, when people think of any particular city, they think of the old downtowns.

Very few tourist agencies boast about the local mall with the same 20-50 chain stores found in every other mall in every other city across the country!

[underpants]

17. Our mall has a hotel IN it

a "boutique hotel" :eyes:


http://www.hotel-sierra.com/locations/richmond_west/default.aspx

[xchrom]

6. maybe we start with the notion that we can't just live where ever we want?

put more time & effort into good urban planning & design.
get more accurate research for planners & developers & ask they be sesitive to the data & not be afraid to say no.

[outerSanctum]

8. That's a great idea!

We need a whole new bureaucracy that will determine that a tornado MAY hit in a portion of a proposed building site sometime in the next 50 - 100 years. They will then be able to determine that the risk is too high and people should not allowed to be able to build there.

Sounds like a plan!

[xchrom]

9. better than the chaos of do what ever the fuck you want ask every body else to pay for your mistakes

[underpants]

12. Also - as you build new homes you have to build or expand schools

fire departments
police
hospitals
utility maintenance
road work
etc.

[outerSanctum]

18. You're right.... All those jobs are a terrible thing!

NT

[pipi_k]

13. I think zero population growth might be a good start n/t

[hedgehog]

16. Buffalo and Erie county actually lost population over recent years,

even as sprawl continues.

http://streetsblog.net/2011/04/21/the-budget-buster-no-ones-talking-about-its-the-sprawl-stupid/

[Mist]

10. Apparently we are ludicrously over-built w/r/t commercial property, something like

30% or more is empty. Repurposing such properties for residential or mixed-use would be a way of dealing with housing needs. Much better than the brainless sprawl we've seen for decades.

[Taitertots]

14. Population increases and tornadoes

More people means more people are going to get hit by X, Y or Z. This has nothing to do with urban, rural, sub-urban...