The simple answer to the hostility....

[beachbum_al]

All storms can go out to sea and become fish for all I care. I don't want to see another storm in my lifetime. Of course I know that will not happen.

[TexasSam]

Let's see if I can say this without getting real long winded...

I moved to the Houston area in 1982, after visiting here every summer all my life (Mother's relations live here). I did happen to be here in what 1980 when Hurrican Allen was coming. Nothing happend and it was fun to see everyone go crazy, and being from Nothern Illinios I had no idea why.
When Hurrican Alicia hit Houston I happened to be living in Los Angles, and was going to move back to Houston that day, but my Aunt called me and told me not to come back untill she chould call me again. The next day I watched the Network news in total shock that all the glass was blown out of the buildings Downtown. I moved back to Houston and saw some of the recovery, but I was busy, and it didn't effect my life in a apartment. then came what I think was Alison 89 or 90, just a bunch of rain, then next year I think it was Jerry? then nothing major for many years.
Next I happend to move to my Aunt's place in Cleveland, Tx. 2 days before Alison 2001. Not bad in Cleveland, but the house that I lived in a few days before that was totaly flooded for the first time since it was built in 1950.
Then we come to Hurricane Rita 2005, I now own my own house, and mother is very old with health problems. We put off getting out untill to late, and stayed when it seemed the storm was going to go inland to our east, at least I knew it going in there we weren't going to have a storm surge here. As the storm comes in it's a real slow build up to the worst part, and the worst part seems to on forever, the power goes out, it gets hot, you can't open the windows because of the rain, and you can't sleep because of the sounds outside. then the storm passes, still without power, and the wind dies. Hot night! Next day still no power, and now wind, and because the Hurrican just went by not a cloud in the sky, temp. got to 105, and Humid.

I never want to be in a Hurricane again!!!!!

[Deputy Van Halen]

Some people get mad at folks like me that profit from disasters. To that I can only reply, "I'm sorry you feel that way."

There's nothing wrong with it, as long as you're not CAUSING the disaster in question. You're definitely on a higher moral plane than politicians, who cause endless problems and then proclaim that we must give them more money and more power so they can fix those same problems.

Now if we could just get rid of these ridiculous laws against "price gouging", then you would be joined by scores of others rushing in to provide needed supplies when disaster strikes.

[MGC]

Well, unless you've been through a Camille, Andrew, Fredrick, Charley, Katrina (add here as needed) type storm you have no clue as to the misery a major hurricane can inflict on you. As a kid I wanted every hurricane to hit where I was. One day nature gave me my wish, Hurricane Betsy. Betsy made me take back all my wishes, yea put that genie back in the bottle. Betsy was the first time I saw Coast Guard helo pluck people off the roofs of their flooded homes in New Orleans. Little did I know I'd be glued to the TV in August 2005 watching a repeat. Bottom line, Hurricanes suck......MGC

[Jim Cantore]

I'm 16, I dont OWN a house, and I live in New Jersey 60 miles inland.

I love tracking storms, I used to like watching the landfalls. Now after 2004-2005, and seeing the potental of "Doomsday Storms" I want them all to head for the north pole.

And New Jersey is very prone to a doomsday event. So I NEVER EVER want to see the event unfold.

[wayoutfront]

Me persally have been thrilled with Hurricanes ever since I lived in Bermuda Via the USMC for almost 2 years. I experience a cpl there and there is no evacuation. Those homes are built to last

Now that I am an Insurance Adjuster I hope for the best ( That no Hurricanes hit) but prepare for the worst .

[AussieMark]

what do u call people who like to observe fish storms for all their majestic beauty and not have to worry about them bothering people?

I am sure all of us in this forum belong in that category

[Stormavoider]

what do u call people who like to observe fish storms for all their majestic beauty and not have to worry about them bothering people?

I am sure all of us in this forum belong in that category

Saints

[AussieMark]

I am a saint then

[Cat5survivor]

I'm most certainly in Camp A. Living in Homestead Florida and listening to my apartment fall down around me during Andrew (I was in my closet with my cats) I never, ever want to see or hear another hurricane. It took two years to feel that my life was on a normal path again and tho I worked for the government and they took VERY GOOD CARE of us...the memory of that storm is still very fresh and to listen to thunder and lightening is terrifying now. And I did get stationed in Minnesota for 5 years and yes I'm back in Florida again (I really do love it here, especially Cocoa Beach) I hope the current season stay slow or non-existant

[tgenius]

I appreciate everyone in this thread responding as you have,it's great to have healthy discussion, and I think we all may understand each other a little more now.

[Frank2]

There's another camp, who really don't belong here - financial speculators, posing as "weather fanatics", who use the opinions of the professional folks to hedge their buy or sell orders, when it comes to oil, gas, agriculture, home repair ("DIY") chains, etc.

Very unethical, but, that entire business is...

[tgenius]

I'm also a bit concerned that when a storm does form, if it threatens CONUS, then people's patience will dwindle, tempers will flair, and things could get ugly...

[Sanibel]

Concrete dome, photovoltaic cells under special curved acrylic roof, water cistern, etc etc etc...

[Patrick99]

Not so. I own....and still enjoy being in a hurricane.

[msbee]

Camp A here also!
I remember when I first moved to the Caribbean. I truly was excited about my first hurricane.
There is no controversy, I do not think, about the power of Mother Nature being exciting and awesome.
But after suffering..and I mean suffering..through many hurricanes, the thrill is gone.
Do I still like to track canes? sure!
Am I upset because we have a quiet season so far? Nope, I am quite releived.
I think the key here is that we all must respect each other and we must be sensitive to the fact that many on here have faced terrible destruction from canes and are still trying to cope.
that is sometimes lost on those who wait eagerly for a cane and post about every "blob" with exclamation marks and excitement.
when I come on here and see those posts, it strikes fear into my heart, first of all, and then it just makes me angry.
If those people just stopped to think about how their posts affect some of us..many of us.... then maybe they could tone it down a bit???
what do you think, guys??

[redmosquito]

Thoughts/Opinions?

Well, the important thing to remember is it doesn't matter how many people wish for a hurricane to strike. We cannot 'will' a hurricane to form with our minds. It's matter of annoyance, so just ignore the posts.

[fci]

tgenius:

I think you hit it right on the nail in your categories and I am just like how you are.
I definitlely LOVED getting hit by a hurricane as a kid growing up in Miami in the 60's.
The thrill of the chase and the sheer force of nature was awe inspiring.

Now as an adult and business owner who has to shut down his stores when there is a Hurricane Warning and until the power is restored, I DO NOT want a storm to come anymore.

There is still admittedly; the adrenaline rush watching the whole scene unfold from threat to watch to warning to the force of the storm witnessed before my eyes. Wilma was incredible coming during daylight so we could watch it unfold.

However, the aftermath is NOT fun anymore and I would be thrilled to never experience one again.

Great analysis on your part

[Frank2]

Not to mention, when Donna made landfall in 1960, Florida only had 5 million residents - more like 4 million or so during the summer - which is the population of only Dade and Broward Counties today...

Since Florida was mostly rural in the '60s (and even '70s), the evacuation problems were less severe than today...

Frank

[Ivan14]

I am A and B. I am A because I am a teen and LOVE tracking hurricanes. I am also B because I don't like hurricanes hitting land. I went through Ivan so I know what a major hurricane can do. I want all hurricanes to be harmless fishies.