"Researchers predict active hurricane year" by Brian K. Sullivan | Bloomberg News, April 11, 2013
An above-average number of storms will emerge from the Atlantic this hurricane season, and the odds of the United States being hit by a major system are greater than predicted last year, Colorado State University researchers said.
Eighteen named storms will develop in 2013, the forecasters said in their initial seasonal outlook. Nine are expected to become hurricanes, four of them major systems of Category 3 or higher with winds of at least 111 miles per hour.
The Colorado State team estimated chances of a major hurricane strike on the country this year at 72 percent, compared with 42 percent last year. Sandy, which devastated parts of New York and New Jersey in October, had winds of a Category 1 level.
Related: Sweeping Up Sandy Coverage
‘‘We think we will have a pretty active season here,’’ said William Gray, professor emeritus who pioneered long-range hurricane forecasting.
Atlantic hurricanes are watched closely because of their threat to major US population centers and to the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf is home to 7 percent of US natural gas output, 23 percent of oil production, and 44 percent of refining capacity, according to the Energy Department.
Last year, the Colorado State forecasters predicted 10 named storms, about half of what developed. The 30-year average for the Atlantic storm period, which runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, is 12 systems, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
--more--"
Related: US to alter tropical storm warnings
I'm sorry, folks. I've stopped listening to government lying and fear-mongering.
At least they will help you rebuild:
Katrina, Rita aid misspent, report say" by Andrew Miga | Associated Press, April 04, 2013
WASHINGTON — Federal investigators said Wednesday that as much as $700 million in federal aid intended to help some 24,000 Louisiana families elevate their homes after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita may have been misspent.
A report by the Housing and Urban Development Department’s inspector general said some homeowners who got grants of up to $30,000 used the money for something else....
If they were a bank it would be okay.
HUD officials said the state is responsible for making sure the money was spent properly. But after seeing similar results in previous audits, department officials helped Congress put tighter reins on the program in distributing aid to victims of last fall’s Hurricane Sandy....
--more--"
Hey, at least you received a nice trailer to live in.
Also see: Tight-Lipped on Louisiana
Tight wallet, too.
