I have a picture in my mind of the top oil people, all sitting around a table, watching the Weather Channel. They each write down one name from the list of 3 approaching hurrincanes. They then draw a name out of a hat. "Ike it is! We'll start jacking the prices up when Ike hits Cuba. Thanks for playing, and have fun spending all that extra money!"
Hurricanes cost these companies plenty. They are not a welcome event that anyone with real assets on the line cheers about (day traders and speculators might make a quick buck, but they can also take a bath). The companies, executives and employees, do the best they can to minimize damages from these unwelcome events, and get back in operation as quickly as possible. They make their soup bowl by providing product to all of us for extremely low prices.