Wind Engineering Featured on History Channel
Untitled Document
This week on the History Channel, the following question is posed: What would happen if a Category 3 Hurricane were to hit New York City? With an awesomely high storm surge and intense winds attacking one of the most heavily populated and economically vital locations in the world, the potential for massive destruction is almost unprecedented. This week the History Channel explores the less-known but extensive history of previous northeast hurricanes--especially the "Great Hurricane" of 1938--in order to create empirical evidence that a storm of this size is not science fiction but a very real possibility in the near future. According to the History Channel's website, they will also explore the scientific nature and origins of hurricanes and get an overview of some of the engineering changes that are taking place in the field of hurricane damage prevention. Using computer animation, models, and recreations the story concludes with a jaw-dropping view of what a storm like this might look like from inside the Big Apple.
University Distinguished Professor Jack Cermak is recognized around the world as the father of wind engineering. In 1959 he founded the Fluid Dynamics and Diffusion Laboratory at Colorado State. This revolutionary laboratory is filled with models and wind tunnels which are used to study the effect of wind on man-made and geological structures. As a world-renowned wind engineer Cermak, together with his colleagues and former graduate students, has helped to solve thousands of wind engineering dilemmas.
Dr. Cermak retired from Colorado State in 1997 to devote his time to his company, Cermak Peterka Petersen, Inc. He and his colleagues at CPP were interviewed by the History Channel for this documentary. The feature is called Mega Disasters: New York City Hurricane, and will be shown Tuesday, May 23 at 9pm ET, and again Wednesday, May 24 at 1am and 11pm ET and May 25 at 3am ET on Fort Collins Comcast channel 46.
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