July 2010

The first storm of the season, Hurricane Alex, made landfall last night on the eastern coast of Mexico. A Category 2 storm, Alex formed last week off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and had been gradually gaining force as it moved in a northwestern direction across the Gulf. It landed in Tamaulipas state, about 110 miles south of Brownsville, Texas. So far, the storm has brought two tornados and much flooding, but fortunately, no injuries or major damage have been reported. Alex has now been downgraded to a tropical storm and is expected to dissipate over the next couple of days.

Hurricane-prone states face the additional challenge this year of an oil spill in the Gulf that could contaminate the storms that pass through it. Although there has been no mention of contamination of Hurricane Alex, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has released a fact sheet on the possible impact of the oil spill on future hurricanes and storms this season. Please read below for some answers to questions you may have about how the BP oil spill could affect the hurricanes that make landfall.

Also included below is a list of helpful tips to prepare for the hurricane season. Whether you’re new to a hurricane-prone area or a storm veteran, it’s always wise to review your emergency plan and take steps as early as possible to get ready. Preparations can be much more stressful and costly if left to the last minute.Remember, preparing yourself and your family can mean the difference between a safe and unsafe experience. Prepare now and stay safe this hurricane season!

HURRICANES AND THE OIL SPILL

The information below has been excerpted from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fact Sheet on hurricanes and the oil spill. For more information, go to www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/hurricanes_oil_factsheet.pdf

What will the hurricane do to the oil slick in the Gulf?

• The high winds and seas will mix and “weather” the oil which can help accelerate the biodegradation process.
• The high winds may distribute oil over a wider area, but it is difficult to model exactly where the oil may be transported.
• Movement of oil would depend greatly on the track of the hurricane.
• Storms’ surges may carry oil into the coastline and inland as far as the surge reaches. Debris resulting from the hurricane may be contaminated by oil from the Deepwater Horizon incident, but also from other oil releases that may occur during the storm.
• A hurricane’s winds rotate counter-clockwise. Thus, in VERY GENERAL TERMS:
• A hurricane passing to the west of the oil slick could drive oil to the coast.
• A hurricane passing to the east of the slick could drive the oil away from the coast.
• However, the details of the evolution of the storm, the track, the wind speed, the size, the forward motion and the intensity are all unknowns at this point and may alter this general statement.
• Evaporation from the sea’s surface fuels tropical storms and hurricanes. Over relatively calm water (such as for a developing tropical depression or disturbance), an oil slick could, in theory, suppress evaporation if the layer is thick enough, by not allowing contact of the water to the air.
• With less evaporation, one might assume there would be less moisture available to fuel the hurricane and thus reduce its strength.
• However, except for immediately near the source, the slick is very patchy. This would allow much of the water to remain in touch with the overlying air and greatly reduce any effect the oil may have on evaporation. Therefore, the oil slick is not likely to have a significant impact on the hurricane.

Will the hurricane pull up the oil that is below the surface of the Gulf?
All of the sampling to date shows that except near the leaking well, the subsurface dispersed oil is in parts per million levels or less. The hurricane will mix the waters of the Gulf and disperse the oil even further.

Will there be oil in the rain related to a hurricane?
No. Hurricanes draw water vapor from a large area, much larger than the area covered by oil, and rain is produced in clouds circulating the hurricane.

As you prepare for the 2010 hurricane season, please be aware of Ryder's Emergency Broadcast Network and Employee Help Desk toll-free telephone hotlines. These hotlines are activated to assist all Ryder employees and provide information following any man-made or natural disasters such as hurricanes.

The Emergency Broadcast Network (1-888-RYDER-911) provides employees with a pre-recorded status report on emergency conditions in a disaster area. The hotline is active 24 hours, seven days a week and is updated as conditions warrant.

The Ryder Employee Help Desk (1-800-88-RYDER) will assist employees who request emergency services due to a disaster. Services include, but are not limited to, cash or loans, food, clothing, counseling, temporary shelter, and transportation.

In the event of an emergency, Send Word Now enables Ryder to reach out to employees and their families to monitor their status. If you have not already responded to a link that was sent to you requesting your updated contact information, please send an e-mail with your contact information to Business_Continuity@ryder.com.

Did you know…?

2010 Archived Issues
June