ROUND-UP: IMPACT OF HURRICANES KATRINA/RITA (continued)
Following are experts who can discuss the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. (While experts were submitted as part of a round-up on the impact of Hurricane Katrina, they most likely will also be able to discuss the impact of Hurricane Rita.)
Additional updates to the round-up will be posted at http://profnet.prnewswire.com/organik/orbital/thewire/lst_leads.jsp?iLRTopicID =10923 You may also find helpful our wiki-based resource of academic experts: http://www.katrinaexperts.com
**1. ROSS C. DEVOL, director of regional economics at the MILKEN INSTITUTE: “Preliminary research indicates Katrina could cost the U.S. economy an initial loss of 400,000 jobs in September and reduce monthly average job creation by 30,000 jobs for the rest of 2005. It could also increase the price of oil by $10 a barrel and lead to a nearly one percent decline in GDP growth in the fourth quarter of this year. But next year, reconstruction efforts will turn things around -- adding back those 30,000 jobs per month, easing the price of oil, and increasing the GDP by more than a percentage point during the second and third quarters. The reconstruction efforts will prove a boon to the economy in 2006."
**2. PETER VOGEL, attorney at GARDERE WYNNE SEWELL: "Companies facing catastrophic data loss from Katrina and Rita can take comfort in the realization that more than 90 percent of all information is now electronic and often can be recovered. However, if the information lost includes legal evidence, expect heavy scrutiny. The question of what these companies and their lawyers did to preserve electronic records will be posed. Recent cases involving the willful destruction of evidence may impact companies that did nothing to protect electronic evidence in the path of a hurricane. Judges will have to review back-up plans to see if they were adhered to, and if not, why not."
**3. JEFF ISAAC, Esq., of THE LAWYER IN BLUE JEANS GROUP: "The so-called Bankruptcy 'Reform' Bill that passed Congress and goes into effect this Oct. 17 is shaping up to be yet another lethal blow to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Under this myopic legislation, those who were duly employed before but did not have proper insurance to cover the many losses incurred from the storm may be barred from filing for bankruptcy protection. It's shocking that a bill so critical to the financial well-being of our nation's citizens -- in this case, those who were working and contributing to society and our economy -- could have been so short-sighted, and, as inexcusable, passed by Congress as such."
**4. LAWRENCE F. STEFFANN, CEO and president of DATA PROTECTION SOLUTIONS (DPS): "Recent events have made small- and medium-sized business owners painfully aware of their vulnerability -- not just in the face of a crisis, but during the course of normal day-to-day events that interrupt business processes (from power outages to system failures). While disaster recovery is surely a concern, sustaining business continuity, even in the course of relatively modest technical 'hiccups,' is paramount -- particularly for smaller companies for whom just hours of downtime can be devastating. Users need to weigh their business continuity plans against a variety of factors, including the size of their budgets, their tolerance for risk, their recovery time and/or recovery point objectives, and the criticality of the applications and data they are trying to protect, among other things, and then map these needs to specific technologies."
**5. PETER CARIDES, president and CEO of TACHYON NETWORKS INC., can discuss Hurricane Katrina and its devastation of the terrestrial communications systems in Louisiana and Mississippi: "I hope it's going to be a wake-up call. There is little difference between a Caribbean island and small American towns in their over-reliance on terrestrial communications." Tachyon Networks Inc. provides broadband IP-based satellite systems that can help small towns avoid spending weeks without communications services in the event of devastation like Hurricane Katrina.
**6. STEVEN S. CAMP, attorney at GARDERE WYNNE SEWELL: "As those affected by recent hurricanes work on rebuilding their lives, they need to take a close examination at their consumer debt. Consumers may seek temporary relief from many types of payments and, if asked, credit card companies may also grant temporary limit increases to cover emergency expenses. Of more concern may be car loans. If they were left behind, most cars can be expected to be totaled. This will impact a significant number of people, because very few invested in the GAP coverage to insure the difference between what is owned and the value of the car."
**7. GERALD RICHARDSON, managing director of HURON CONSULTING GROUP, which helps clients effectively address complex challenges that arise from litigation, disputes, investigations, regulation, financial distress and other sources of significant conflict or change, can discuss the challenges these businesses will face during the insurance claim process in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina: “Many businesses in the Gulf Coast region and around the country will be taking on the arduous task of filing property damage and business interruption insurance claims as a result of the hurricane. Huron professionals have helped clients negotiate more than $2 billion in property damage and business interruption settlements due to Sept. 11, hurricanes, fires and other disasters.�
**8. MIKE ROSENFELT, executive vice president of Austin-based MESSAGEONE, a company that provides business continuity services: "If you can't communicate, you can't recover. In disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, businesses need to have emergency communications services in place to communicate with employees to help ensure their safety, to recover and to maintain their business after the disaster. After supporting more than 25 companies through Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, we have insights to share with businesses on how to put a business continuity/disaster recovery plan in place."
**9. JUDITH COLLINS, professor of criminal justice at MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, is a national expert in identity theft and says that steps must be taken quickly to prevent hurricane refugees from becoming doubly victimized by identity theft: "There are simple steps that can help victims of natural disasters in the U.S. avoid the often Orwellian ordeal of becoming victims of identity theft. With the authorization of upper-level management and efficient leadership, these best practices for identification management in times of emergency can be developed, implemented and operational within one week, provided all politics are put aside in the best interests of everyone."
**10. FINLEY HARCKHAM, senior shareholder at ANDERSON KILL & OLICK, P.C.: "Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood's suit against homeowners' insurers faces an uphill battle -- but could also have enormous implications for the insurance industry, since the legal reasoning does find support in insurance coverage litigation precedents. The core argument is that policy language is ambiguous if the policy purports to cover hurricane damage, but then excludes damage from hurricane-induced flooding."
**11. ERIC THURMAN, CEO of GENEVA GLOBAL, an advisory service that manages international philanthropy for wealthy American donors: "Donors should ask six basic questions when contemplating the most effective form of charitable giving for the relief efforts that will be needed after Hurricane Rita: 1) How will my giving make a difference? 2) Will I give to local groups or a big-name national agency? 3) How can I avoid scams? 4) What do I hope to accomplish? 5) What is being missed by others? 6) How much of each dollar I give directly helps hurricane victims?"
**12. TERRY AXELROD, founder and CEO of RAISING MORE MONEY, one of the nation's largest fundraising training organizations: "Nonprofit anxiety is running at an all-time high. We've launched free conference calls on post- disaster fundraising, and now 1,000 have signed up. Nonprofits from the affected areas working with evacuees and others have lots of questions. We can provide details on their concerns and what we advise them."
**13. ROBERT DESIERVO, director of professional affairs at the AMERICAN SOCIETY OF SAFETY ENGINEERS: "There is no one-size-fits-all solution to business resumption following a catastrophe; however, safety and health for recover -- rebuilding workers should be at the top of a short list.�
**14. ANDREW CORN, CEO of CLEAR ASSET MANAGEMENT, a stock research and retail asset management firm: "While everyone is bemoaning the high cost of energy, like with most tragedies, there is a silver, or, in this case, golden, lining. Certain stocks are poised to benefit from the recent problems, and astute managers can have their investors profit from this opportunity."
**15. JOYCE HUNTER, assistant professor of marketing at SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY's Graham School of Management, can discuss the hurricanes in terms of marketing ethics; for example, how a gas station owner near Mississippi charged local residents $9 a gallon for gas: "He was the only game in town and saw an opportunity to 'price gouge' the local residents and take advantage of a catastrophe for personal gain."
**16. DENISE DUSSOM, senior partner, THINK PBS, can discuss crisis planning for businesses. She and her partner had to evacuate New Orleans and their consulting business: "There are many problems with rebuilding that one might not even suspect. For example, the name of Professional Business Solutions (PBS) is already taken in the state of Texas, so we are re-branding the business as Think PBS. These types of issues underscore the need for crisis planning."
**17. ROBERT K. MEYERS, president of GAB ROBINS' INSURANCE, is an expert on the insurance industry's response and has unique insights into this crisis. Meyers can speak in detail about how the forensic skill sets of adjusters are being put to the test, as they are going so far as to look at the way nails are bent to determine if the cause was wind or flooding. He is also focused on contingency business interruption. For example, out-of-state bus and tour operators that delivered customers to New Orleans casinos have not sustained much Katrina damage, but they no longer have destinations for their clientele. Retailers, hotels and other entertainment-related businesses in the regions are talking to Meyers everyday about managing their numerous insurance issues.
**18. BOB LINDEN, managing consultant in PA CONSULTING GROUP'S global energy practice, has spent over 20 years in the North American and international natural gas and power industries as business executive, industry consultant and market analyst. Linden's consulting career has focused on commodity portfolio development and management, asset portfolio optimization, new market entry, asset and enterprise valuation, contract negotiations and policy analysis. His clientele ranges from large energy trading companies and integrated oil companies to rural energy cooperatives, and includes merchant generators, investor-owned utilities, financial institutions and government agencies. Linden's opinion has been sought after by the New York Times, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, CNBC, Financial Times and “NewsHour with Jim Lehrer� to discuss the fallout from Katrina and Rita on the nation's oil and gas supply.
**19. MARK MILLER, legal counsel for GREENBERG TRAURIG, has counseled Fortune 500 clients on the structuring of multi-level insurance programs and prosecuting and settling complex insurance coverage disputes. He brings a seasoned business-oriented approach to solving insurance problems, and his clients included the world's top retailers, manufacturers, transportation, technology, commercial real estate, entertainment and service sectors companies. Miller is a nationally recognized authority on insurance issues, having published and been extensively quoted in publications such as Forbes, Business Insurance, the Legal Times, Treasury and Risk Management, Risk and the National Law Journal.
**20. PETER GILLON, shareholder and chair of the NATIONAL INSURANCE COVERAGE AND ADVISORY PRACTICE, has achieved national recognition for his experience addressing complex insurance coverage disputes, including representing United Airlines in its business interruption claims arising from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Gillon's legal experience as an environmental attorney addresses environmental risk and transfer products in the context of business transactions, real estate and bankruptcy as it relates to the redevelopment of contaminated property or brownfields, including litigation involving all major airlines, environmental risk transfers, advising companies' insurance needs and real estate environmental risk management.
**21. MARK A. BERKOFF, partner at DLA PIPER RUDNICK GRAY CARY, can offer unique perspectives regarding several bankruptcy-related issues on the horizon. He has insight into how the new Bankruptcy Reform Act, which takes effect in late October, will affect the thousands of Hurricane Katrina survivors who have been left not only emotionally, but also financially, distressed. Berkoff can also discuss how the new bankruptcy code will make it more difficult for individuals to reorganize, and what individuals should do in order to prepare for the increased level of bankruptcy counseling.
**22. DICK POPPA, president of the INDEPENDENT INSURANCE AGENTS AND BROKERS OF NY, can speak to flood insurance, ID theft, homeowners insurance, etc. -- anything related to the hurricanes. He can also provide tips to homeowners on the types of insurances they need in general, and why.
**23. JOHN GREEN, wireless expert at BUSINESSEDGE SOLUTIONS INC., can talk to the technical reasons that cause service to be degraded or interrupted, as with Katrina. He can speak about the plans that would be currently in place by the carriers, the issues that will degrade service and the issues involved in restoring service. Green has over 25 years in the wireless industry and was quoted in various publications around the recent London bombing communications interruption.
**24. ROBERT A. RUSBULDT, CEO of the INDEPENDENT INSURANCE AGENTS & BROKERS OF AMERICA, is available to discuss the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the insurance industry. He can discuss how the industry will handle the great damage and recover. He can also discuss the Hurricane's impact on pricing and how to recover from storm and flood losses, can give advice on minimizing losses and damages, can provide financial information on small businesses and the uninsured, and can supply information on the National Flood Insurance Program.
**25. DR. JAMES WALKER, professor of communications at SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY, can talk about media coverage of the disaster and how media shapes our perceptions of our culture; for example, how reporters referred to African-Americans who were carrying away merchandise as "looting," whereas white people were "finding" what they needed.
**26. ARNOLD MASCALI, senior vice president and counsel for AON HORIZON, a provider of property claims consulting services, is available to comment on how insurance companies are dealing with the claims resulting from Katrina and Rita.
**27. GEORGE N. SPAHN, vice president of sales at THRANE & THRANE INC., a provider of global mobile satellite and radio communication solutions, can speak about the value of satellite-based communications as the Senate takes up legislation to fund more than $3 billion in survivable communications after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. His comments are based on experiences in Louisiana and Mississippi, where he helped novice, as well as expert, users.
**28. DANIEL KELLEHER, senior vice president of external affairs at AMERICAN WATER, the nation's largest private water utility, has been qualified as an expert witness in several state and federal courts, with over 30 years of experience in the water industry. He can discuss what challenges crews face as they decontaminate and rehabilitate crippled water systems; how much clean water is needed for hurricane refugees; how one can determine whether the water from their taps is safe; and what immediate issues are facing emergency crews working to restore water service to affected areas.
**29. PATRICK FUREY, senior commodity manager at ARIBA, a provider of Spend Management solutions, can discuss how companies will cope with Hurricanes Rita and Katrina’s effects, short- and long-term. Short-term effects he can discuss include working with suppliers to insure that the supply chain remains intact; shifting production and obtaining material from alternate sources; temporary supply shortages driving price increases in commodity chemical markets. Long- term effects include global market for chemicals and plastics resins; market effects on small manufacturers; low-cost country sourcing efforts; supply alternatives Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East; and shortages in chemical feedstocks, which will cause production outages in major resin facilities.
**30. JAY EPSTIEN, chair of the real estate practice group for international law firm DLA PIPER RUDNICK GRAY CARY, can offer unique perspective on issues facing the real estate market post-hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Pertinent issues include: a market "bubble burst," possible inflation, growing popularity of multi-family housing and interest rates. Additionally, the firm recently completed a national survey of real estate experts. These results reveal insiders’ perspectives on the pre-hurricane status of the real estate market.
**31. THOMAS CALIFANO, New York-based bankruptcy attorney at DLA PIPER RUDNICK GRAY CARY, can provide insights into how the new Bankruptcy Reform Act, which takes effect Oct. 17, will affect the thousands of Hurricane Katrina survivors who have been left not only emotionally, but also financially, distressed. He can discuss how the reform will increase individual bankruptcy counseling and what counseling preparations individuals may take.
**32. JEFF DAVIS, California-based bankruptcy attorney at DLA PIPER RUDNICK GRAY CARY, can provide insights into how the new Bankruptcy Reform Act, which takes effect on Oct. 17, will affect the thousands of Hurricane Katrina survivors who have been left not only emotionally, but also financially, distressed. He can discuss how the reform will increase individual bankruptcy counseling and what counseling preparations individuals may take.
**33. SHERYL TOBY, Detroit-based bankruptcy attorney at DYKEMA GOSSETT, can provide insights into how the new Bankruptcy Reform Act, which takes effect on Oct. 17, will affect the thousands of Hurricane Katrina survivors who have been left not only emotionally, but also financially, distressed. She can discuss how the reform will increase individual bankruptcy counseling and what counseling preparations individuals may take.
**34. DARIN NEWSOM, grains analyst at DTN, has more than 15 years of experience analyzing grains markets and assisting agriculture producers with marketing. Newsom's market openings and closings commentaries and news analyses have been heard on radio stations for many years. Additionally, he has written a monthly column for Central Kansas Farmer and has taught courses on agricultural marketing. Currently, Newsom provides DTN customers with grain market insight, analysis, and advice on an hourly, daily and weekly basis.
**35. PHIL MUSSER, executive editor of TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION WORLD, can speak about the power industry's impact from the hurricanes and its efforts to restoring power.
**36. RICK BUSH, editor of TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION WORLD, can speak about the power industry's impact from the hurricanes and its efforts to restoring power.
**37. JASON MEYERS, editorial director of TELEPHONY, can speak about how the telecommunications industry is affected and how companies are trying to provide assistance.
**38. JIM MELE, editor-in-chief of FLEET OWNER, can speak about how the transportation industry is responding and its role in the country’s recovery.
**39. BRUCE SAUER, editor of TRAILER/BODY BUILDER, can speak about how the transportation industry is responding and its role in the country’s recovery.
**40. GARY MACKLIN, editor-in-chief of REFRIGERATED TRANSPORTER, can speak about how the transportation industry is responding and its role in the country’s recovery.
**41. CHARLES WILSON, editor of BULK TRANSPORTER, can speak about how the transportation industry is responding and its role in the country’s recovery.
**42. LISA HURLEY, editor of SPECIAL EVENTS MAGAZINE, can speak about meeting and special event planning professionals affected by Katrina and Rita.
**43. BETSY BAIR, editor of the MEETINGS GROUP magazines, can speak about meeting and special event planning professionals affected by Katrina and Rita.
RSS