The following Drexel University professors are available to assist the news media in their continuing covering of Hurricane Katrina:

Communication breakdown:
Why did New Orleans residents experience such a massive failure in communication systems? Can it be restored? Why didn't ATM's, phones, cell phones and electricity work? What is the difference between the conditions that disrupted all communication technology during Hurricane Katrina as opposed to other natural disasters? Dr. Bruce Eisenstein, professor of electrical and computer engineering, can address these questions.

Internet safety:
How safe is it to offer help online, to offer to take complete strangers into your house? How easy is it for someone to steal your identity during your efforts to help? Are the Web sites seeking your personal information legitimate? Ask Dr. Robert D'Ovidio, professor of criminal justice at Drexel.

No place like home:
How can evacuee parents prepare their children to accept the new reality of not having a “home?” How can students in schools accepting evacuees help new students adjust to an unfamiliar school? How can adults emotionally prepare themselves in order to better help their children? Dr. Myrna Shure, a Drexel psychologist, can answer questions on child psychology.

Drinking water:
What will it take to purify the water that now pollutes New Orleans? What can people do to reduce health risks after prolonged exposure to the toxic water? What chemicals are making the current water so harmful for humans? What kind of infrastructure is needed to make clean water available to the city? Dr. Charles Haas, professor of civil and environmental engineering, can answer such question.

Helping those in need:
Dr. Peter Rumm, director of Drexel's Center of Public Health Readiness and Communication, is in San Antonio to assess the needs of those evacuated. He can answer questions on what type of coordination is needed to help those in San Antonio and how a disaster response can be successful.

Dr. Lisa Ulmer, chair of the Department of Community Health and Prevention at Drexel's School of Public Health, just returned from Baton Rouge and is available to discuss her experience helping Hurricane Katrina victims suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

“ Camp Greyhound ”:
With Hurricane Katrina having caused the evacuation of jails and most likely destroyed criminal records, questions about the state of the correctional system in the Gulf Coast will be raised in the coming days as the focus shifts from rescues to long-term problems. Dr. Julia Hall, professor of sociology and coordinator of the criminal justice program at Drexel University, is available to discuss a range of problems the Gulf Coast correctional system faces.

Rebuilding New Orleans:
Is rebuilding New Orleans possible? What would it take? How much above water should the city be restructured? Dr. Richard Weggel , professor of civil engineering, can comment on the possibilities of rebuilding. Dr. Joseph Martin, civil and architectural engineering professor, can elaborate on the damage to roads and bridges.

New city, new water:
What is needed to ensure the water pipes in a rebuilt New Orleans are decontaminated and able to carry clean water to residents? Dr. Charles Haas, environmental engineer, can elaborate on the process.

Damage to the levees:
Dr. Joseph Wartman, a civil engineer at Drexel, will fly out to New Orleans with a team of engineers on behalf of the American Society of Civil Engineers to assess the damage to the levees. He can answer questions on the amount of damage Katrina caused to the levees and if the levees can be repaired to efficiently protect a rebuilt New Orleans.