US Seeks to Weaken Hurricanes

Charges surface of preferential treatment for rich neighborhoods

(NEWSER) - New Orleans is still at severe risk from a serious flood, even though the Army Corps of Engineers has spent 2 years and $1 billion on the city's hurricane protection system. What's more, much of what's been done will benefit only wealthier neighborhoods. “We’re still with this damned patchwork quilt," says an engineering professor. The Times takes a look. More»

Exodus from low-lying areas accelerates as hurricane approaches

(NEWSER) - Thousands have fled low-lying areas of Texas in the projected path of Hurricane Ike, the Houston Chronicle reports. The storm is expected to get stronger before making landfall along the coast this weekend. Texas has troops and 1,350 buses on standby for evacuations. As many as a million people may move to higher ground, officials predict. More»

(AP) - President Bush flew over flooded fields and downed trees today as he kept a close watch on the Hurricane Gustav recovery —in contrast to his administration's bungled response to Katrina 3 years ago. Aboard Air Force One, Bush received a briefing from FEMA director R. David Paulison, who said he believes the federal response to Gustav went "extremely well," but warned residents against returning to their homes before city services are up and running. More»

Rockier-than-average hurricane season predicted; 5 possibly severe

(NEWSER) - Federal storm watchers warned of a possible 16 named storms, and five major hurricanes, this year, the Miami Herald reports. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced a 65% probability that the hurricane season, which stretches for 6 months from June 1, “may very well be a busy” one. The prediction jibes with a forecast issued by university scientists. More»

(NEWSER) - Gabrielle made a relatively tame landfall—with top winds hitting the 50 mph mark—on North Carolina's coast today at 11:45am, reports CNN. It's more a relief than a worry for the drought-stricken region, but storm surge flooding of up to 3 feet was possible. The storm was to turn northeast tonight, heading back out into the Atlantic. More»