To the Point
Preparing for Disaster
San Francisco was blindsided and nearly burned to rubble 100 years ago today as a pre-dawn 7.8-magnitude earthquake rocked what was then called "the Paris of the West." More than 3000 people perished. Last August, New Orleans suffered its own tragedy in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Some 1604 people were killed during the storm and its aftermath, which proved to be the costliest disaster in US history. Over the past hundred years, what have we learned about preparing for and mitigating the destruction of natural disasters? Guest host Diana Nyad talks to journalists, geologists, architects and economists.
By Warren Olney • • 1h 0m ListenSan Francisco was blindsided and nearly burned to rubble 100 years ago today as a pre-dawn 7.8-magnitude earthquake rocked what was then called "the Paris of the West." More than 3000 people perished. Last August, New Orleans suffered its own tragedy in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Some 1604 people were killed during the storm and its aftermath, which proved to be the costliest disaster in US history. Over the past hundred years, what have we learned about preparing for and mitigating the destruction of natural disasters? Guest host Diana Nyad talks to journalists, geologists, architects and economists.
Staff Changes at the Bush White House
President Bush has named Joshua Bolten as his new chief-of-staff, and US Trade Representative Rob Portman to replace Bolten as director of the Office of Management and Budget. More staff changes at the White House are reportedly imminent. David Lightman of the Hartford Courant says that while the President has staunchly defended Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Treasury Secretary John Snow may be the next to go.
What's Driving Up Oil Prices?
After doubling over the past two years, crude oil surged to an all-time high of more than $70 a barrel yesterday, with political issues in both Iran and Nigeria contributing to the spike. That translates to prices at the gas pumps that are 24 % higher than this time last year. Experts, including Michael Economides, Professor of Petroleum Engineering at the University of Houston, say we should be prepared for further hikes.
Guest host Diana Nyad, 2002 inductee into the International Swimming Hall of Fame, is a business sports columnist for Marketplace, senior sports correspondent for Fox News, and has hosted her own show on CNBC. She's also the author of three books.
• President Bush nominates Rob Portman as OMB Director, Susan Schwab for USTR
• Lightman's article on White House staff changes
• San Francisco Rising (1906 Earthquake and Fire Commemoration)