Asperger's Conversations

Last word on the Keene Flood

blogger Jon Udell made a creative use of digitial technology, including google maps, screencasting, and video to create this tape of the Keene flood.  Its important to note that this was the most comprehensive coverage of the Keene flood posted on any website...at least as of Sunday:

http://weblog.infoworld.com/udell/gems/KeeneFlood.html

On a positive note, let's hope that local media begins to see local bloggers and others as an important source of information while we're in the throws of emergencies.  Apparently, WKBK radio (AM) did do a commendable job of opening up their phone lines to collect stories.  Many people online, though, can also contribute in a unique way...Local media can serve as a "conduit" of information that goes beyond the limitations of the number of available reporters and so on.

As Jon Udell put it in his mediacast, we should be grateful that this was not nearly as bad as the New Orleans flood...but it was certainly one we won't forget.

Keene, NH Flood: Podcast

Keene blogger Luann Udell sends me this link via email for up to date flood and weather information:

http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/iwin/nh/flashflood.html

I spoke with two kids enjoying the scene in front of my building on Church St.  Click here to hear their observations:

Download flood1.mp3

My friends Nicole and Andreas called in from Troy to say that Rt. 119 in Hinsdale is essentially gone.  Don't try to go to downtown Hinsdale, NH.  They saw video footage on WMUR TV of a kayaker on Church St. in Keene.  I've heard that Winchester St. in Keene is also flooded and that Washington St....the major connector to Rt. 9...is closed.

But, I just spoke with Dan Dubelman of the band Betty Dylan (www.bettydylan.com) in NYC who say that they are coming up anyway to play at the Railroad Tavern in Keene tonight.  Railroad St. is closed...but the bar is open.  And, the EF Lane Hotel, where they are staying, is open.

If you are in Keene...come and enjoy the music.

Keene, NH Flood: More Pics

If you look closely you can see a fellow in a boat riding up Railroad St. which has not even been closed.  I'm listening to spotty coverage on local radio WKNE which is mostly playing "Stevie Nicks" and "Nickleback."  Why don't they turn off Casey Casem, open their phones and let people call in and report on what's happening in their local areas? 

As an example of misinformation, WKNE just broadcast that a. Arch St is closed and b. Arch St. is open.  Which is it?  We'll need to review how information is collated.

Annika, Age 9, and her friend Brynn, Age 10, had a sleepover last night and woke up to find this going on outside Annika's condo bedroom in downtown Keene.  Denise Meadows, Manager of the EF Lane Hotel across the street is dealing with big time flooding and is trying to pump out water... but says its coming in faster than she can pump it out.  She's wondering if the police will evacuate the hotel.

I've heard that the dam in Alstead has broken and that there are houses ripped off their foundations and that most roads in Alstead are out.  The Keene Recreation Center has been set up as an evacuation point.  I've also heard, from Jon Udell, that Highland Lake has overflowed.

Keene, NH Flood

Here in Keene we are experiencing a major flood that has resulting in road closings, evacuations, and entire towns in the area have been shut off from the outside world (e.g., Alstead, NH).  The Governor has declared a state of emergency and has ordered 500 National Guardsman to hit flooded areas, including 100 to Keene.

I'm expecting to be evacuated from my condo on Church St (the rest of Church st. has been evacuated, I am told, and flood waters are expected to crest and surge at 2pm (its 11am right now). 

I'm getting my info from strange sources such as the Union Leader online (which isn't even a local paper) and friends who live in Keene and other areas.  Gaye Mihovich in Sullivan tells me that Rt 9 has buckled and that the highway is flooded and closed.

Our local radio station, WKNE FM, is doing some coverage but is mostly playing Casey Casem's top 100 hits and ads for Ted's Sports.   I've received calls from local bloggers Luann Udell and others who are desperately seeking info.

I'm posting pics of flooding on Railroad ST in Keene, including a fellow riding a motorboat down the street...and the police haven't even closed off the street. 

View this photo

Academic Weblogging: Students Response

In today's podcast I speak with my students in Applied Psychology at Keene State College.  Jill Arruda, Laura Tobin, Lori Blair, Meghan Ingraham, Erica Gebhart, Carina Zannini, Mike Caswell, and Stephanie Nikiforakis and Crystal Bartlett.   We talk about Dan Gillmor's book, We the Media, and about weblogging in psychology.

We talked about the pros and cons of students blogging about academic subjects.  Click on the MP3 file below to listen to today's conversation from the Science Center Room 201.

Download appliedpsych2.mp3