Thursday, May 22, 2008

Hurricane warning in the Atlantic

According to federal forecasters, there is a good chance of there being 6 to 9 hurricanes forming in the Atlantic. Furthermore, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials have supported predictions of some of these major hurricanes as well as mentioning the possible formation of an additional 12 to 16 storms. While the forecasters said there is a 60% to 70% chance of their predictions coming true, it's impossible to predict what mother nature will present us with. For example, in 2005 forecasters predicted 12 to 15 storms to appear during the season, but there ended up being a record breaking 28. With the upcoming season quickly approaching (June 1 - Nov. 30), it's vital that people living in hurricane prone areas are prepared, regardless of the predictions.

16 comments:

Jacqueline said...

Hurricanes are one of the reasons I love California.
I recently heard also that the water levies in New Orleans are leaking, and now with this report from federal forecasters, people should brace themselves. The government should do something, at least better than in the season of 2005(Katrina). The government should be over-prepared for this season, making sure that every household has enough sandbags and other equipment to stand their ground, but also that they know where to go in case of an evacuation.

Ellie said...

With statistics like this, how can anyone say that global warming is a sham? We've thoughtlessly spewed tons of fossil fuels into the atmosphere, and changed the way heat is distributed around the world, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that now we're seeing the repercussions.

Emma Citrin said...

I totally agree with ellie. I think that stats like these are only additional proof. And, because the previously low forcast, people should only be extra cautious because it's true, we never really know what mother nature has in store for us

William Chen said...

With all these hurricane problems, I am actually curious about how the future will be for the Southeast Unites States. After being hit with a couple of category 5 hurricanes, I'm wondering if people are still wanting to live in that area. I'm sure that some folks will stay no matter what, but what about the younger generation families that have the ability to move? Will they stay or move due to the increased amount of hurricanes that tend to strike the Southeast part of the United States? If enough of them do, it could have a very significant impact on that region's economy and society. With a smaller population, the economy might shrink due to a smaller workforce and lack of "buying" from consumers.

Jon Co said...

This blog post has to be a wake up call for the public. The environment is being ruined and it is evident in everyday life. No one wants to live somewhere where it is unbearable and that's what is starting to happen because of pollution in this world. We are truly the future and we can make a difference. It's important, especially for me, to realize that standing up for change is something that will affect legislation and it will, hopefully, retard the destruction occurring to the world.

Rochelle Chau said...

People should be prepared for the seasons ahead. The weather is unpredictable, and even forecasts for the following week could change in just a day. Will has a good point to what he said about future generations. People are more likely to find homes elsewhere instead of spending loads of money buying a house and raising a family to have it destroyed by a natural disaster.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Ellie that global warming is contributing to an increase in natural disasters like hurricanes. Although there is no way to completely reverse global warming, everyone should do their part and try to protect the environment by recycling more, carpooling (or walking or biking) and trying to save energy. I think the government should help the states affected by hurricane season be prepared for these upcoming hurricanes by giving them money to help pay for extra expenses (such as more medical aid, and shelters).

Kelsey said...

First of all i agree with Jacqueline..I love California because we dont have to worry about Hurricanes. Secondly, the dramatic weather changes in our world are very interesting. So many hurricanes, earthquakes ect seem to be a trend in nature these days. I am going to have to pull the old global warming card. I guess that its hard to tell for sure if its global warming but I would say it's a pretty good bet. This is bad news for all the territories and countries that are at risk for natural desasters.

Kerina Chiu said...

I’m not surprised to hear of an increase of hurricane warnings given the fact that temperatures will be increasing from global warning. It is a proven fact that hurricane frequency increases with increased temperatures and, given our current disregard for the environment, we better be prepared for many more to come.

Anonymous said...

This should be a wake up call for us about global warming. Also hopefully the goverment should be prepared when these category 5 hurricanes hit so that we dont have another katrina. Hopefully they learned from their mistakes and will pay attention to the warnings that they are given and take action on them.

Anonymous said...

You could also draw this example to the extent to which the US could help other countries. Unlike the US, other countries may not have the know-how and/or the equipment to predict these natural disaster that may cause mass destruction. With these preparations, the people may be able to be prepared to evacuate or do what they have to to stay alive.

Natural disasters seem to be a major obstacle in the news these days.

Anonymous said...

Ok ok so a bunch of people said that this should be a wake up call, but is it really? Right now the Lieberman-Warner Global Warming Proposal is being brought to the floor to reduce carbon emissions, and it's not getting much approval. In addition, even if it is approved, it does not do enough to reduce global warming as scientists predict.

Here's an article about how public opinion may shape the turnout:
http://www.nationalcenter.org/PR-Poll_Lieberman_Warner_052808.html

Zack Mar said...

It's apparent that the environment and nature are deteriorating in quality.. whether it is caused by global warming or not, warnings of hurricanes, tsunami's etc. beg the question of the what will happen to the earth in the future.
Perhaps, and dont get me wrong because I do care for present humanity, we should consider increasing the spending on research that will save humans from earth's threats altogether.. in contrast to ONLY preventing its harm.
It is true that sandbags and flexi glass might save a local store or a suburban house, but wheres the progress in that??
Obviously, as most people beleive, I think that we should definently try our best to protect ourselves first.. HOWEVER, we should try much harder than we do now in finding a way to solve the problem of sustained human existence. Global warming, for example, is unstoppable no matter what. Fiquratively speaking, instead of dampening out its (global warmings) flame repeatedly with little droplets of water, why not take the time to fill a bucket and douse it out?
In short, I think that we should expand our ideas.. Think farther outside the box and use more resources to do so.

Nicole S said...

I wonder if more people would become aware about global warming if this does turn into another Katrina. I hope that doesn't happen, but if it does, it might jumpstart some more change.

Anonymous said...

HELLO MR. SILTON

Scott Silton said...

hi!