It's ANOTHER Hurricane Season

[Sean in New Orleans]

There are many, in New Orleans, and in this general region who are having mental problems, depression, anxiety, etc. over this hurricane season. We all know what occurred last season...and, I repeat, LAST SEASON. Most of us here understand meteorology and the tropics. And what do we all know?...This is ANOTHER hurricane season. It is important to know that there are thousands of people in Greater New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast that are, literally, not rebuilding their homes until this hurricane season is over. And this is completely understandable, but, the reality is this is a NEW hurricane season that offers a clean slate. We all know that this hurricane season has absolutely nothing to do with last season. We are approaching this season with a totally clean slate. Granted we have damage concerns left over from Katrina around SE Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but, THAT'S ALL. I've spoken with many relatives and friends who were around following Betsy and Camille and the exact same phenomena occurred that we are witnessing this year. It's called the human paranoia. Science tells us all that this is another year, and it is silly to compare this year with last year. Yes, we may be in an upswing period, but, that's it. There is no reason on Earth to think that Pass Christian is going to experience a Cat. 5 this year, or New Orleans will go under. The one concern is THIS, IMO..somebody will get it..but, the idea that an exact repeat of last year will occur again, has science saying..."Not going to happen." Let's pray for whoever gets it this year. I'll say this, for Hurricane Season 2006: I'm glad I'm in New Orleans and not Houston, the Outer Banks, or NYC..hmmm, I guess I've let out what I think the trends will be this year!! Gotta love that persistent ridge that is showing up in the Deep South for Summer 2006...I smell temps in the 100's and low tropical activity for the Northern Central Gulf this year.

[T-man]

Well, I remember last year as well, Sean. I remember telling all my friends and relatives after Cindy passed over us how she was our storm, statistically speaking we were in the clear, yada yada yada. So right now as I sit in my broken home, I can't help but wonder what this season might bring to my neck of the woods. It does not have to be a repeat of last year, since most of the marsh below me is gone now and anything that comes close will push water way up in here. Trust me, I know. When the wind blows from the south for more than three days, the water comes up on my yard.

[gatorcane]

Considering Florida has been hit by Ivan, Dennis, Katrina, Jeanne, Frances, Wilma, Arlene, and Charley....(did I miss anything?) in two years...and now maybe Alberto to kick off 2006, we all have anxiety here.

[Ivanhater]

Considering Florida has been hit by Ivan, Dennis, Katrina, Jeanne, Frances, Wilma, Arlene, and Charley....(did I miss anything?) in two years...and now maybe Alberto to kick off 2006, we all have anxiety here.

bonnie

[Sean in New Orleans]

Well, I remember last year as well, Sean. I remember telling all my friends and relatives after Cindy passed over us how she was our storm, statistically speaking we were in the clear, yada yada yada. So right now as I sit in my broken home, I can't help but wonder what this season might bring to my neck of the woods. It does not have to be a repeat of last year, since most of the marsh below me is gone now and anything that comes close will push water way up in here. Trust me, I know. When the wind blows from the south for more than three days, the water comes up on my yard.

I understand your concerns...but, you are outside of the levees, so you do have legitimate concerns. I love Lafitte and visit there often, but, you may want to consider moving inside of the levee protection. It would truly lower your anxiety, IMO.

[T-man]

Move into the bowl? Surely you jest. Yes the water comes in. But it goes back out. I am able to return after a day or two and begin the process of cleaning up/getting back to where I need to be. No pumps necessary, gravity still works down here. Please consider that the levee is not always your friend....

[Sean in New Orleans]

Move into the bowl? Surely you jest. Yes the water comes in. But it goes back out. I am able to return after a day or two and begin the process of cleaning up/getting back to where I need to be. No pumps necessary, gravity still works down here. Please consider that the levee is not always your friend....

I gotcha...but, keep in mind, by Summer, 2007, we will have already had $8 Billion spent on revising our levees. I'm comfortable with them. Let's just pray them away!!!

[Opal storm]

Oh yeah the central Gulf coast is totally out of the woods this season thanks to that precious ridge...geesh That ridge could be gone by the time Aug or Sept rolls around,and all it takes is one little weakness in it to send a storm our way.

I'm not letting my guard down like that.After Ivan I though it would be years before Pensacola would get another hurricane....WRONG!.Not even a year later we got Dennis.I'm not saying we are going to get hit again this year,but I'd rather be prepared as if we are instead of having that false sense of security that you have right now Sean and end up unprepared.

[Sean in New Orleans]

You think I have a "false sense of security," Opal? Honey, I'm one of the few that was IN New Orleans for Katrina. I have NO sense of "false security." But, I'm also not a wishful thinker or paranoid. I'm only stating my thoughts on present patterns, which many mets and hurricane specialists have also elected to lean towards. As with any season...we'll see what happens.

[MississippiHurricane]

What ever happened to "seeding" hurricanes in order to weaken them? I think if I heard correctly they did this once and that it DID work but then the storm rebounded and got much stronger. If we cant weaken them TURN THEM INTO FISH BAIT!!

[duris]

You think I have a "false sense of security," Opal? Honey, I'm one of the few that was IN New Orleans for Katrina. I have NO sense of "false security." But, I'm also not a wishful thinker or paranoid. I'm only stating my thoughts on present patterns, which many mets and hurricane specialists have also elected to lean towards. As with any season...we'll see what happens.

At least the Airline Sav-A-Center reopened and has Abita! Just hope if we get anything this season, its before my downstairs is redone. We're gambling on rebuilding now rather than waiting and hoping that history and the levee repairs are on our side. Know plenty of people not rebuilding and don't blame them a bit though.

[Cyclenall]

And this is completely understandable, but, the reality is this is a NEW hurricane season that offers a clean slate. We all know that this hurricane season has absolutely nothing to do with last season. We are approaching this season with a totally clean slate. Science tells us all that this is another year, and it is silly to compare this year with last year. Yes, we may be in an upswing period, but, that's it.

When I read this part I thought some more. You said this hurricane season has nothing to do with the 2005 one. I'm going to disagree here, for a few reasons. 2004 was crazy and then 2005 was worse. Why is that? It's because something is up. It's just getting too crazy to believe what is happening in the tropics. When I woke up that October 19th of 2005 and turned on the TV to hear what Wilma had done, I felt that anything can now happen and I was going through shock. No one knew that was going to happen (at least anyone I have ever read about).

[Audrey2Katrina]

I gotcha...but, keep in mind, by Summer, 2007, we will have already had $8 Billion spent on revising our levees. I'm comfortable with them. Let's just pray them away!!!

I'm all for "praying" them away... in fact I do it nightly! But I wish I could share your comfort zone. The 17th St. Canal, from all I've heard, was only repaired where the breach occured, and there were TWO places on the Metairie side ready to go...Don't cite me on that--but I've heard it a couple of times by people supposedly in the know, AND on the radio with all the talk shows. These have NOT been shored up or reinforced--they're relying entirely on those gates... not enough "comfort" for me... as since our pumps rely on dumping a lot into that canal in a heavy rain event, and they won't be allowing that, there is talk of well over a 50% drop in pumping capacity for the Metairie side. I know it's quite possible that nothing will happen this year, and dearly pray it doesn't; but I can equally assure you that another breach at that infamous canal, especially if it's in one of those two areas that were NOT reinforced--and it'll be the swan-song for the Metro area to the west. You'll see more "for sale" signs popping up in Metairie, than weeds.

Here's hoping for an UNeventful season in these parts so we CAN shore up all those weaknesses and get this place back to a semblance of normalness.

A2K

[The_OD_42]

Sean, I'm really sorry about your losses and the many other losses from Katrina last year. My aunt lives in Slidell and I know she sustained quite a bit of damage. However, (now I haven't voiced my opinion on this and I don't think others have either just to save their heads) I feel greatly for those people in Pensacola, Punta Gorda and SW LA/SE TX. After Katrina ravaged New Orleans, these other people got their support taken away from them and they were just left on the curb for themselves. This just angers me that these other cities are still looking like warzones and being forgotten because all of everyone's effort is going elsewhere. This is nothing against New Orleans or its residents. I visited the city New Years '05 and it is a VERY beautiful and vibrant city and I was so sad to see such damage. I just figured I'd post this to see if anyone else out there felt the same way.

I hope you do not experience anymore of the tropics this year Sean. May you be safe and God bless.

[Audrey2Katrina]

When I read this part I thought some more. You said this hurricane season has nothing to do with the 2005 one. I'm going to disagree here, for a few reasons. 2004 was crazy and then 2005 was worse. Why is that? It's because something is up. It's just getting too crazy to believe what is happening in the tropics. When I woke up that October 19th of 2005 and turned on the TV to hear what Wilma had done, I felt that anything can now happen and I was going through shock. No one knew that was going to happen (at least anyone I have ever read about).

Almost every met and met organization has figured that 2006 will be no 2005. Of course anything can happen; but I sincerely doubt it would be anything like 2005.

A2K

[Sean in New Orleans]

The OD 42, I want you to know I'm very heartbroken over the losses along Mississippi and the Gulf Coast region. I haven't been able to go over and see these areas, because New Orleans has been enough. Although the media has taken an approach to New Orleans that lets all know what happens, I think people on the coast should know, that we, here, love the coast and are hurt badly by the losses there. You know, the coast is only an hour from here, and most New Orleanians, such as myself, have a profound love of the Coast. In a sense, we not only consider it our playground, but, in a sense, as our little sister or brother. We love the coast. We really do. 'And I sympathize more for those in Florida that suffered in years past. They suffered more acute damage and most of their troubles were resovled on a quicker pace (not all). With Katrina, we have millions that have suffered a very elongated tragedy that will be years in the making for any type of real recovery. My own parents have had to give up and purchase a new home 70 miles from Chalmette, yet their entire life is still Chalmette. They will bulldoze their home and attempt to rebuild in a couple of years. There are just too many issues to deal with, and to be quite frank, my Mom needed a bathtub, a kitchen, and a yard to do her flowers. It was becoming just too much living in their camper.

[MGC]

I hope that ridge that is parked over Texas move right over us. I'll trade watering the grass and a high electricity bill because of the heat for the protection the ridge provides us. Like in 1980 when we had a long hot summer down here at least no TC's. The ridge shunted Cat-5 hurricane Allen to N. Mexico.....MGC

[Swimdude]

^ You can have the ridge. We need some RAIN.

[JonathanBelles]

^ You can have the ridge. We need some RAIN.

you just got a ton a little while back, didnt you?

[Audrey2Katrina]

^ You can have the ridge. We need some RAIN.

Yes, some areas of Texas are in SEVERE drought conditions... may it all go your way!

A2K