On 3/1/07, Anthony wikilegal@inbox.org wrote:
On 3/1/07, George Herbert george.herbert@gmail.com wrote:
I was going to suggest a more global-warming-proof location, given both sea level rise and hurricane issues for St Petersberg
I believe the sea level rise is scheduled to happen slowly enough that there will be plenty of time to move, so I assume that's more of a joke.
There's a schedule? All the climatologists and oceanographers and marine engineers I know want to see it, if you have a copy ;-)
There are some ranges estimated, but nobody knows for sure. Catastrophic events such as relatively sudden loss of the Greenland Ice Sheet, or West Antarctic Sheet, would cause a relatively swift rise.
But the hurricane issues for St. Petersburg are very serious. From what I've read on the matter, St. Pete would be devastated by a direct hit from a big hurricane. Low lying, relatively large population, connected to the rest of Florida mostly by bridges. It'd be really bad.
The good thing about hurricanes, as opposed to earthquakes, is that with proper planning and adequate insurance, losses can be kept to a minimum. If the WMF doesn't already have a detailed plan in place, there are still a few months left to make one. Anyone in Zephyrhills got a really big living room and a T1? If you let me join the fun I'll bring the chips.
From an IT management perspective, this is Business Continuity.
I know some of the answers to this, but a BC analysis asks:
Where is the data duplicated? Where are the servers duplicated? What will the impact be to users of a cutover to the disaster recovery site(s), in terms of performance and lag and downtime? Are administrative and technical staff in the affected zone, and if so, how do you get them to the DR site, and who handles their houses and families and so forth? What are the risks of building flood, wind damage, and complete collapse? How long could power be out? Are there generator refueling plans? Do the refuelers have disaster access permits from the local government?
I could keep going. There are lots of issues.
I am not aware of there being anywhere that is completely safe from significant natural disasters. Some places are more prone than others, and the ones you get in some areas are more regionally catastrophic (big earthquakes, big hurricanes, 15 feet of snow across a whole state, etc) than others (tornados, etc).