ProfNet Experts Available on Hurricane Harvey, Trump’s Arpaio Pardon, More

NEW YORK, Aug. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area.

You can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network – it's easy and free! Just fill out the query form to get started: http://prn.to/queryform

EXPERT ALERTS

• Search and Rescue Technology That Can Be Used in Houston
• Katrina vs. Harvey: Advancements in Technology
• Hurricanes and Flooding
• Hurricane Harvey Photo Speaks Volumes, But Doesn't Paint Whole Picture
• Hurricane Harvey Rescues
• Business Continuity Following a Natural Disaster
• Workforce Management During and After a Hurricane
• Insurance Coverage and Natural Disasters
• Trump's Pardon of Sheriff Joe Arpaio
• President Trump Pardons Joe Arpaio: Legal and Political Implications
• If You Trademark It, Then You Better Put a Ring on It
• Understanding Forest Fires
• 20th Anniversary of Princess Diana's Death

MEDIA JOBS

• Editor, Newsroom Standards – WSJ/Dow Jones (NY)
• Contributor, Presidential Daily Brief – OZY (Remote)
• Chicago Health Care Reporter – POLITICO Pro (IL)

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

• Find Funding for Your Next Story: 12 Programs Helping Fund Tomorrow's Journalism
• Career Crossroads: Former Washington Post Reporter on Life After the Newsroom
• Blog Profiles: Donut Blogs

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EXPERT ALERTS:

Search and Rescue Technology That Can Be Used in HoustonKenneth StaffordRobotics Professor
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Over the past decade, there have been major advancements in robots and other technologies that can be critical tools in disaster relief. Stafford, an associate teaching professor at WPI and director of the university's robotics resource center, said underwater or amphibious robots would be perfect for search-and-rescue efforts in and around Houston during and in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey: "If you look at the pictures on the news, this is exactly the scenario our Walrus robot was designed for -- a flooded urban area where you need to go into buildings and see if anyone needs help or to make sure the buildings are safe. The scale of the flooding in the Houston area means you'd have to have a flotilla of these robots."
Stafford is available to discuss what first responders have at their disposal now and how can these machines help in the many weeks and months to come.
Website: www.wpi.edu
Contact: Colleen Bamford Wamback, [email protected]

Katrina vs. Harvey: Advancements in TechnologyMichael GennertProfessor Robotics Engineering
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Gennert is available to discuss Hurricanes Katrina vs. Harvey and the advancements in technology, from robots to drones to autonomous vehicles: "In 2005, there were no drones, no swarm robots, and autonomous underwater vehicles were a fantasy. Now, first responders have state-of-the-art navigation systems, the ability to tap into location devices, and program search and rescue robots remotely."
Bio: https://www.wpi.edu/people/faculty/michaelg
Website: www.wpi.edu
Contact: Colleen Bamford Wamback, [email protected]

Hurricanes and Flooding
Shuang-ye Wu
Associate Professor of Geology
University of Dayton
"The hurricane gets it fuel from warm water. Right now, we continue to have record-setting global temperature, so the ocean water is much warmer. That warm water will send more moisture and more energy into the hurricane. Right now, we're not sure how climate change will affect the number of hurricanes. But we're pretty sure once we have hurricanes, they're getting stronger."
Ohio-based Dr. Wu is an expert on flooding. For Harvey coverage, she can discuss: 1) major risks associated with hurricanes; 2) what makes Harvey particularly devastating -- the meteorological settings for the extreme precipitation and flooding; 3) the relationship between climate change and hurricanes. She is an author of "Potential Impacts of Sea-level Rise on the Mid- and Upper-Atlantic Region of the United States" in the journal Climatic Change, and "Vulnerability of Coastal Communities to Sea-Level Rise," a case study of Cape May County, N.J., in Climate Research.
Video: http://tinyurl.com/y95tklp2
Website: https://www.udayton.edu/news/find_an_expert/results.php?topic=Flooding
Contact: Meagan Pant, [email protected]

Hurricane Harvey Photo Speaks Volumes, But Doesn't Paint Whole PictureBill HopkinsHealth Care Attorney
Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP in Austin
The dramatic photo of residents of an assisted living facility in Dickinson, Texas, sitting in waist-deep water while waiting to be evacuated is one of the most widely shared photos of Hurricane Harvey's aftermath. While some were quick to pass judgment on the facility owner, her actions should be commended. Says Hopkins: "Similar to what we saw with Hurricane Katrina, there is not a lot that an assisted living facility can do in these circumstances. With elderly residents who are fragile and frequently equipment-dependent, you cannot simply load them in cars or vans and move them somewhere easily. In fact, studies have shown that sometimes attempting to relocate these residents in an emergency situation can result in stress-related incidents such as heart attacks and strokes. Reports indicate that the owner tried her best to get help and support, but was told that help was not readily available. Luckily for these residents, she did not take no for an answer and thought outside the box to get her people to safety. Rather than second-guessing her decision, she should be applauded for doing what was necessary to get her people safe."
Contact: Rhonda Reddick, [email protected]

Hurricane Harvey RescuesKenny VaughanFounder/CEO
Shields of Strength
Vaughan has been taking a small crew and his boat to help with water rescues in the Houston area where he lives and works: "I have never, ever seen anything so vast and so bad. The people are amazingly courageous. We pray for them as we rescue them, and they stop us and pray for us. This nation is a people who love one another: all religions, all colors, all kinds. Jesus built this nation, but hate and selfishness can tear it down. No selfishness in Southeast Texas the last two days. Please pray for us."
Vaughan has video footage of rescues available to media outlets. The crew is also giving each person they rescue a Shield of Strength dog-tag necklace inscribed with Joshua 1:9. Vaughan is a world class water-ski distance jumper who won the national championship in 1996 and his battle with fear with the help of the scriptures scrawled across his ski tow ropes. He founded Shields of Strength to help others battle fear. He wrote his story in the book "Shields of Strength."
ProfNet Profile: http://www.profnetconnect.com/kennyvaughan
Website: https://www.shieldsofstrength.com
Contact: Marcia Davis, [email protected]

Business Continuity Following a Natural DisasterAlan SutinShareholder; Chair, Technology, Media & Telecommunications Practice; Senior Chair, Global IP-IT Practice
Greenberg Traurig LLP
"Companies sometimes fail to consider the impact of losing their key computer servers and other technology systems following a hurricane or other natural disaster. Reviewing the company's disaster recovery and business continuity plans and making sure they meet the company's current operational and cybersecurity standards will go a long way to avoiding significant business interruption or ongoing liability."
Sutin counsels companies on a wide-range of issues relating to privacy and cybersecurity. He co-authored the Law360 article "Top Tips for Data Breach Readiness and Response," and can discuss data protection issues during and after a disaster.
Website: http://www.gtlaw.com/People/Alan-N-Sutin
Contact: Sarah Misailidis, [email protected]

Workforce Management During and After a HurricaneJoe FlemingShareholder; Litigation Practice, Labor & Employment
Greenberg Traurig LLP
"While the hurricane season is approaching and it is of great importance to be prepared, the same concepts of preparation also apply to labor, employment, disability, safety, pandemic, workplace environmental, cybersecurity, climate change, asymmetry in 'technological advances' and other disaster concerns. We are increasingly vulnerable to increasing complexities as our society involves developments that create advantages, which may bring with them new issues. So, it is always 'in season' to be pro-active in programs that prepare us for such problems; and, adopting systems for possible risks may have the upside advantages of being of great value in diminishing exposure to risks."
Fleming is an experienced litigator and labor and employment lawyer who is also familiar with historic properties. He can speak to workforce management and payroll issues during and after a hurricane.
Website: http://www.gtlaw.com/People/Joseph-Z-Fleming
Contact: Elaine Walker, [email protected]

Insurance Coverage and Natural DisastersRobert EpsteinShareholder; Co-Chair, National Construction Law Practice
Greenberg Traurig LLP
"All property owners should review their insurance programs to assure that they have the proper coverage in adequate amounts."
Epstein practices in the area of construction law and contracting. He wrote an article in the New Jersey Law Journal about rebuilding New Jersey's infrastructure after Hurricane Sandy, and can speak to similar topics.
Website: http://www.gtlaw.com/People/Robert-C-Epstein
Contact: Sarah Misailidis, [email protected]

Trump's Pardon of Sheriff Joe ArpaioRichard E. LevyJ.B. Smith Distinguished Professor of Constitutional Law
University of Kansas
"The pardon power is absolute, and the decision to pardon Sheriff Joe Arpaio cannot be undone. This particular exercise of the pardon power appears to sanction lawless behavior and encourage defiance of controversial judicial decisions, undermining the rule of law. Nonetheless, the remedies for abuse of the pardon power are political, not legal."
Levy can discuss Trump's pardon of Arpaio, constitutional issues regarding presidential pardons, pardoning power and related topics.
Contact: Mike Krings, [email protected]

President Trump Pardons Joe Arpaio: Legal and Political ImplicationsJames GoodnowLegal & Political Commentator
Fennemore Craig
Goodnow is available to discuss the legal and political implications of President Trump's pardon of Joe Arpaio. Goodnow is based in Phoenix and has provided extensive analysis of this explosive news cycle: "Other presidents have used pardons in controversial ways; that's nothing new. Bill Clinton, for instance, pardoned his brother. What is new -- and what makes this pardon particularly inflammatory for some -- is its context and timing. Most pardons are done in the 11th hour when a president is heading out the door. Against that backdrop, many in the electorate are focused on the incoming administration and are wanting to focus on a new start for the country. Here, President Trump pardoned former Sheriff Joe Arpaio for alleged racial profiling on the heels of Charlottesville, a series of tragic events that highlighted racial tensions in a way not seen in recent memory. That political context thus makes the pardoning of someone who is known for racially-charged political controversy particularly 'in your face' and especially divisive in the eyes of many."
Goodnow is a nationally recognized legal and political commentator. A Harvard Law School graduate, he was featured on the cover of the American Lawyer, one of the largest circulated legal publications in the U.S., in March 2016. He has handled some of the highest profile cases in the country, and has offered legal commentary for CNN, "Good Morning America," "Today," Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, People magazine and others.
ProfNet Profile: http://www.profnetconnect.com/james.goodnow
Website: http://legalcommentator.com
Contact: Terence Murnin, [email protected]

If You Trademark It, Then You Better Put a Ring on ItChris SchwegmannIntellectual Property AttorneyLynn Pinker Cox & Hurst in Dallas
Tiffany & Co. has been a model for trademark enforcement, aggressively and successfully policing its brand in the courts. Last year, Tiffany filed a lawsuit against Costco Wholesale Corp., claiming that the warehouse giant sold more than $6 million of ersatz Tiffany engagement rings and improperly used the jeweler's name on at least 200,000 in-store signs. Tiffany recently prevailed by winning a $19.4 million trademark judgment in federal court. Says Schwegmann: "This type of litigation not only discourages counterfeiters, but also ensures that Tiffany's luxury brand doesn't get diluted over time. I find it interesting that Costco argued that 'Tiffany' represents a generic term used to describe a ring setting, and not just a brand name. That's a tough case to make against a company that aggressively defends its brand. Based on the sizable judgment, it is unlikely that other companies in the industry will try to make the same arguments against Tiffany & Co. That is the benefit of aggressive trademark enforcement."
Contact: Holly Scimeca, [email protected]

Understanding Forest FiresAlbert SimeoniFire Protection Engineering Professor
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
"Even today, despite progress in modeling and experimentation, the spreading of forest fires is not well understood. This area of research is challenging, interesting, and critical since it has the potential to greatly impact on the safety of people, goods, and the environment."
As a former firefighter in Corsica, Dr. Simeoni has 19 years of experience and is an internationally recognized leader in wildland fires, building protection, and fire science. He is a certified fire and explosion investigator, and has developed experimental, analytical, and numerical techniques to better understand fire dynamics and to predict fire behavior. He is a member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), Wildland Fire Network, National Association of Fire Investigators, and former director of Wildland Fires and Simulations at Jensen Hughes. He is fluent in English, French and Corsican.
Website: www.wpi.edu
Contact: Colleen Bamford Wamback, [email protected]

20th Anniversary of Princess Diana's DeathGregory PayneProfessor
Emerson College, Boston
"The 20th Anniversary of the tragedy provides us with an important historical opportunity to assess the worldwide meaning of Diana's death and how the celebrity spectacle of Diana has developed today into the reality TV-driven culture and society that now exists in the White House."Dr. Payne's research in celebrity spectacle began with the tragic death of Princess Diana. Emerson College hosted the first national conference on celebrity spectacle and Diana's death in Boston in October 1997. There were two additional conferences, one in Paris on January 1998, and another in London at Goldsmiths College on August 1998. All three conferences featured top academics, journalists and individuals close to the "Diana Phenomenon," including Dr. Frederick Maillez, the doctor who treated Diana after the accident; Rene Delorm, Dodi Al-Fayed's former butler; and Lady Colin Campbell, author of "The Real Diana." In response to the phenomenon surrounding the tragedy on the global community, these conferences were organized by the Department of Communication at Emerson College to promote further dialogue and discussion in an effort to understand this rhetorical phenomenon and the short and long-term meaning to the diverse audience.
Website: www.emerson.edu
Contact: Michelle Gaseau, [email protected]

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MEDIA JOBS:

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• Editor, Newsroom Standards – WSJ/Dow Jones (NY)
• Contributor, Presidential Daily Brief – OZY (Remote)
• Chicago Health Care Reporter – POLITICO Pro (IL)

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OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES:

Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line.

• FIND FUNDING FOR YOUR NEXT STORY: 12 PROGRAMS HELPING FUND TOMORROW'S JOURNALISM. Great journalism costs money. This is truer today than ever, as the field shifts heavily to digital and mobile innovation. Journalists are crafting bold data experiments, exploring immersive storytelling tools -- like drones, 360 video, virtual reality -- and learning to code. At the same time, news organizations are struggling to replace the rapidly disappearing revenue they used to get from traditional advertising. For the full-time local journalist and independent freelancer, it can be especially challenging to secure budget. If you want to get adventurous with your reporting, but the money isn't there, here are some grant programs that fund stories for journalists that might not otherwise be told: http://prn.to/2xJmNWa
• CAREER CROSSROADS: FORMER WASHINGTON POST REPORTER ON LIFE AFTER THE NEWSROOM. Career Crossroads is a series that features journalists, bloggers and freelancers and their professional journalists. In this installment, we caught up with Theola DeBose, a former reporter for the Washington Post who recently launched a podcast, "The Gray Side: Life After Journalism": http://prn.to/2xq7rpt
• BLOG PROFILES: DONUT BLOGS. Each week, PR Newswire's Audience Relations team selects an industry/subject and profiles a handful of sites that do a good job with promoting and contributing to the conversation. This week, they look at a few donut blogs:http://prn.to/2xuB8Gu

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