*crickets*
Posted on 06/01/2006 8:26:54 PM PDT by Valin
MIAMI, June 1 (UPI) -- There were no tropical systems moving off Africa toward the Americas Thursday, the first day of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season.
Max Mayfield, director of the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami, has been campaigning for weeks for the more than 34 million people who live in storm-prone coastal areas to begin preparations, USA Today reported.
He's concerned with a survey of 1,100 people by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research that found more than half don't feel vulnerable to hurricanes, and 3-in-5 have no family disaster plan.
Referring to last year's devastating strike by Hurricane Katrina that struck the Gulf coast, Mayfield said he hopes lessons were learned.
"The folks there in Mississippi and Louisiana who made a conscious decision not to evacuate were not just tempting fate, they were playing Russian roulette," Mayfield told the newspaper.
The peak of hurricane season normally is mid-August through October, and storms in June and July occur once every other year, records dating back to 1886 show.
Forecasters predict up to 16 tropical storms this year, eight to 10 of them hurricanes and as many as six of them major, meaning a Category 3 or higher with winds of at least 111 mph.
We're doomed...
sort of
It was a bit damp down this way.
I am not impressed.
Atlanta's been real uppity lately.
Shhhh!
Disappointment?
Just like last year.
The news today was all hurricanes, all the time. At lunch, my coworker commented that the media wants a devastating hurricane season like I want to win the lottery. They are practically salivating at the prospect of hurricanes.
Words cannot describe the burning hatred I have for the media.
*crickets*
Good grief, the media sure is being ridiculous about this. But, maybe I'm complacent, since I can't imagine being directly hit again. Rita slammed me last year. Weeks of intense work and misery followed. But that was the worst storm to hit our area in a hundred years. I'm not a gambler, but I just don't foresee having to endure another one like that anytime soon. A small one, maybe. Whatever the case, I'm certainly not falling for the insane media hype.
How about a pool, ladies, for first hurricane of the season? Or have I missed the thread where you all started one? :-)
Oh, oh. You're asking for a repeat. :)
You have to be nice to me. I had my wisdom teeth out today.
Rush was making fun of this during his show.
It seems like last year we had hurricanes before June 1st and after November 1st. It was simply an abnormal year. This year, I think, will be more normal. Doesn't mean there may not be some bad hurricanes this year - just not the season we saw last year.
There's been nothing like Katrina that we've ever known (not counting the flooding in New Orleans which, IMO, is a separate event from the actual hurricane that was devastating enough for those who got the direct hit). It makes no sense that we'd have another year like that two years in a row.
Oh, poor baby. You get a pass tonight.
I trust you have pain meds. Sleep well. :)
Yeah, I'm feeling really good right now. Drugs are such a wonderful invention. LOL!
Not to worry, the problem is solved. After running out of regular names, the Hurricane Center will name hurricanes after old rock groups. The list this year is Abba, Bad Co., Cream, Doors, Fugs, etc. This has caused great sighs of relief here in Florida, because none of these guys have had a hit in years.
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