USC Experts Available to Discuss the Impact of Hurricane Katrina
August 30, 2005
DISASTER RELIEF:
JAMES FAWCETT, marine transportation and seaport specialist, can discuss the hurricane's impact on Gulf Coast ports and the implications for seaport traffic nationwide. Contact him at (213) 740-4477 (office), fawcett@usc.edu, or through USC Media Relations at (213) 740-2215.
ANTHONY MICHAELS, director of the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies and co-founder of the Risk Prediction Initiative, can discuss how the insurance industry has learned to better forecast, manage and mitigate the economic impact of hurricanes and other natural disasters. Contact him at tony@wrigley.usc.edu or through USC Media Relations at (213) 740-2215.
GAS PRICES:
IRAJ ERSHAGHI, petroleum-engineering professor, can discuss the Gulf Coast oil industry, including offshore drilling, oil and gas reserves and oil well control. Contact him at (213) 740 0321 (office), (310) 991-1337 (home) or ershaghi@usc.edu.
DAVID STEWART, marketing professor, can talk about gas prices and consumer psychology. Contact him at (213) 740-5037 (office) or david.stewart@marshall.usc.edu.
FAITH-BASED RELIEF EFFORTS/CHARITABLE GIVING:
PAUL LICHTERMAN, sociology professor, can comment on the effectiveness of faith-based volunteer efforts. Contact him at (213) 821-2331 (office) or lichterm@usc.edu.
JAMES FERRIS, director of USC's Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy, can discuss charitable giving in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and other disasters. Contact him at (213) 740- 9492 (office) or cppp@usc.edu.
JAZZ/CULTURE:
SHELTON BERG, jazz studies professor, can discuss the cultural loss following the destruction of the birthplace of jazz. Contact him at (213) 740-3119 (office), (818) 613-4584 (cell), (818) 790- 5020 (home) or sheltberg@mac.com.
MENTAL/PHYSICAL HEALTH OF SURVIVORS:
WILLIAM HOWELL, internal medicine doctor, can talk about general medical issues faced by rescuers and others exposed to the unsanitary conditions left in the aftermath of Katrina. Contact him through Kathleen O'Neil at (323) 442-3941 (USC Public Relations).
PAUL HOLTOM, an infectious disease expert, can talk about the health hazards posed by decomposing bodies and contaminated water. Contact him through Kathleen O'Neil at (323) 442-3941 (USC Public Relations).
THOMAS HICKLIN, assistant professor of clinical psychiatry and behavioral sciences, can talk about crisis counseling, post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological issues hurricane survivors - including children -are coping with. Contact him through Kathleen O'Neil at (323) 442-3941 (USC Public Relations).
DAVID SLOANE, policy and history professor, can talk about the burial of hurricane casualties and attitudes toward death and memorialization. Contact him at (213) 740-5768 (office), (310) 577-7907 (home) or dsloane@usc.edu.
POLITICS/LEGAL IMPLICATIONS/FEMA:
ELIZABETH GARRETT, law professor, can discuss the president's approval ratings. Contact her at (213) 821-5438 (office), (310) 968-5398 (cell) or egarrett@law.usc.edu.
ALISON RENTELN, director of the Unruh Institute of Politics, can talk about the factors leading to President Bush's approval ratings. Contact her at (213) 740-3248 (office), (626) 536-5963 (cell) or arenteln@usc.edu.
THOMAS HOLLIHAN, communication professor, can talk about the political implications of Michael Brown's resignation from FEMA. Contact him at (213) 740-3947 (office) or hollihan@usc.edu.
KAREEM CRAYTON, law professor, can talk about President Bush's flagging approval ratings, next year's mid-term elections and the political impact of refugee voters. Contact him at (213) 740-2516 (office) or kcrayton@law.usc.edu.
GILIEN HADFIELD, law professor, can compare Hurricane Katrina to 9/11 in terms of political fallout, disaster response, the president's reaction and the possibility of litigation. Contact her at (213) 821-6793 (office) or ghadfield@law.usc.edu.