(2) Matthew Power, Apocalypse 24/7; In the wake of Fukushima, Sandy, and Nemo--not to mention North Korean nuclear tests--disaster is a growth business. (feature story)
http://www.businessweek.com/arti ... n-of-the-apocalypse
(a) Excerpt in the windows of print:
Superstorm Sandy 'was the best commercial we ever had'
Going into the private sector wasonce 'kind of selling out. You used to do this because you wanted to help people, now you're doing it for money?" But that attitude is going away
(b) Quote:
"Samples of gourmet self-heating rations and drink pouches that could purify puddle water via reverse osmosis
photo legend: Adam "Eckstein demonstrates the FloodSax, a 'sandless sandbag' that expands from the size of a doormat to a 44-pound, 18-by-21-inch block by absorbing 5 gallons of water.
(c) My comment:
(i) summary in the Table of Contents:
Hurricanes, floods, and other calamities cost $200 billion in 2012. As the tab rises, so do the prospects for making big bucks off disasters.
(ii) FloodSax
http://www.floodsax.us.com/
(A) in the home page: "FloodSax uses a biodegradable polymer to absorbs water, then block it. Delivered as a flat one-pound sack, they absorb up to 45 pounds of fresh water in five minutes, forming a dense gel that blocks and redirects water, while forming to each other or adjacent structures for a tighter fit than traditional sandbags. Because they are stored dry, they are cleaner, lighter, more effective and easier to use in the places and times when sandbags are most needed."
(B) in FAQ:
"What materials are in FloodSax?
"FloodSax are made of biodegradable polymer crystals, interwoven with a natural wood pulp mix in a semi-porous fabric case. The crystals expand when exposed to water, the wood pulp provides and fabric provide structure and shape as the bag is activated.
(iii) There is no need to read the rest. Just view graphics and photos.
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