WASHINGTON (July 9, 2025) – In central North Carolina, Tropical Depression Chantal dumped up to 10 inches of rain, causing significant flooding, closed highways, and historic river level rise. Tens of thousands of people were left without electricity, according to news reports.
As the storm heads northeast toward Washington, D.C., please consider the following professors from The George Washington University for expert insight and commentary. If you would like to schedule an interview, please contact Claire Sabin at claire [dot] sabingwu [dot] edu (claire[dot]sabin[at]gwu[dot]edu).
Disaster Management
Joseph Barbera, associate professor of engineering management and systems engineering, is a board-certified emergency physician with a 35-year history in developing emergency response systems and responding to local, national, and international emergencies and disasters. He has extensive experience participating in the management of response to earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes, such as Katrina in 2005. Through the GW Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management, he studies disaster response and recovery, risk management, and business continuity.
Public Health
Elizabeth Andrade, is an assistant professor of prevention and community health at the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health. She was part of a team of GW researchers who conducted the most comprehensive study of the impact of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico. She can talk about power outages associated with storms and how they can be particularly deadly for older adults and people who are managing a chronic condition.
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