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In just eight months, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has done years of work on the Katrina-battered ramparts around New Orleans. The Corps has repaired 169 miles of damaged levee. Replaced long stretches of inadequate concrete floodwall with a much sturdier design. Installed 70-ton gates at the mouths of ruptured drainage canals. But it isn't good enough. Even the man who has led the monumental effort to bring the Big Easy's hurricane protection infrastructure back to pre-Katrina standards says so. The defenses are "better, stronger and more resilient" than ever, said Col. Lewis Setliff. "But I'm only fixing about...

MIAMI - While hurricanes relentlessly pound America's coastlines, breakdowns in crucial weather-observing equipment are thwarting forecasters at the National Hurricane Center - the nation's first line of defense against tropical weather - as they struggle to get a fix on the deadly storms, a Miami Herald investigation found. Buoys, weather balloons, radars, ground sensors and hurricane hunter planes, all part of a multibillion-dollar weather-tracking system run by the federal government, have failed forecasters during nearly half of the 45 hurricanes that struck land since 1992."It's almost like we're forecasting blind," said Pablo Santos, who has pressed for years for more...

Environmentalists who claim global warming has caused an increase in U.S. hurricane activity obviously haven't checked with the National Hurricane Center, which has kept statistics on major storms over the last 150 years. That's probably because those statistics yield one inescapable conclusion: If global warming has had any impact at all on hurricane activity, it's lessened - not increased - the frequency of major hurricanes. From 1901 till 1950 - when the U.S. economy was a fraction of its current size and fossil fuel consumption was next to nil - there were 34 hurricanes rated at Catagory 3, 4 or...

The National Hurricane Center (search) lists the following preparedness tips: —Securely fasten impact-resistant shutters over all large windows and glass doors. Shutters can be made from metal or plywood. —Discuss the type of hazards that could affect your family. Know your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind. —Locate the safest areas in your home or community for each hurricane hazard. —Post emergency telephone numbers by your phones and make sure your children know how and when to call 911. —Stock nonperishable emergency supplies and a disaster supply kit, containing water, food, first-aid supplies, cashly covered by homeowners insurance.

For all the criticism of the Bush administration’s confused response to Hurricane Katrina, at least two federal agencies got it right: the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center. They forecast the path of the storm and the potential for devastation with remarkable accuracy. The performance by the two agencies calls into question claims by President Bush and others in his administration that Katrina was a catastrophe that no one envisioned. For example, Bush told ABC on Sep. 1 that “I don’t think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees.” In its storm warnings, the hurricane center never used...

Hurricane Center Director Tells Paper He Briefed Brown and Chertoff on Danger of Severe Flooding By E&P Staff Published: September 04, 2005 6:55 PM ET NEW YORK Dr. Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center, told the Times-Picayune Sunday afternoon that officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security, including FEMA Director Mike Brown and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, listened in on electronic briefings given by his staff in advance of Hurricane Katrina slamming Louisiana and Mississippi--and were advised of the storm’s potential deadly effects. "Mayfield said the strength of the storm and...

FEMA knew storm's potential, Mayfield saysSunday, 4:44 p.m. By Mark Schleifstein Staff writer Dr. Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center, said Sunday that officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security, including FEMA Director Mike Brown and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, listened in on electronic briefings given by his staff in advance of Hurricane Katrina slamming Louisiana and Mississippi and were advised of the storm’s potential deadly effects. NOLA.COM

Hurricane fabian discussion number 35 Nws tpc/national hurricane center miami fl 5 am edt fri sep 05 2003 The latest air force recon has reported a circular 40 nm mi radar Eye. Also...the pressure has risen to 948 mb. The recon has just Flown into the ne quad and found a 110 kt flight level wind. Based On this...the pressure rise and eye diameter i am adjusting the Initial intensity to 105 kts. The initial motion estimate remains at 350/15. There is no Significant change to the previous forecast reasoning. Fabian has Made several minor oscillations over the past day...