Why do you like/dislike hurricanes?

[orion]

I have several reasons I like hurricanes (but of course not the devastation and loss of life and property). First, all my hobbies just seem to fit right in with my love of the weather in general - photography and video, math and physics stuff, and amateur radio. There's just something about a hurricane that has always fascinated me. The power, the awe, and even the beauty. I love the work of the folks at hurricanetrack.com, and I have my own website where I do something similar although not as professional or as large a scale. (If y'all are ever in the Morehead City or Atlantic Beach area I would love to meet up with you).

Several of you have mentioned a teacher. That's my 'real job' and I try to blend in my weather interests whenever I can. I teach high school math and we always track hurricanes at the least, and in more advanced classes we get into more of the dynamics and deeper math - SSTs and steering currents, etc. I teach in Carteret County, and most of my students have experienced hurricanes first hand. This is a tremendous motivator for them... it's an incredible difference between talking equations and showing them in reference to something they have been through. I also use my photographs and video to show them just how devastating even a cat 1 can be so hopefully they will heed official warnings when necessary. Personally, I am always learning new things (lots from the posts on this forum) and love tracking and forecasting a hurricane. And, whether my forecast was right or wrong, the important thing for me is to learn from it - why did it do this? why did it strengthen like that? what made it change course? etc.

I also try to do what I can to help people when a hurricane does hit our area. I help with communications (via amateur radio) and providing transportation to shelters or a hospital if someone needs it. I have seen first hand how a community can come together in the face of devastation... and that is amazing to see in itself.

So for me, in addition to my personal love for 'all things weather', it's also the spark I see in students' eyes when I know I've hooked them and now they really are kinda liking this math stuff, and it's the personal satisfaction I get from sharing what I know and helping others in their time of need. I've made some great new friends along the way.

~Jeff

[Jinkers]

I love/hate hurricanes, after experiencing Andrew first hand, I get jittery when a big one is clost to me, but I still love a fish storm to track.

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

They're scary if inside one, but on satellite
they are potent, geometrically cultivated (having
a well defined spiral generally).

[Category 5]

I like them because no two are the same. And some are absolutely breathtaking.

My dislikes will become clear once I actually experence one (Isabel and Floyd didn't bring the Hurricane experence to me)