The New News System - Will this Be the Year?

We have activated our new news system. It's not without its flaws which we'll still be working on, but it's to the point where it is "good enough" other parts of the site will be gradually moved over. The new site doesn't require you to register, but it helps, and if we have to moderate heavily during an event we may be forced to turn on registration required to post responses to help moderate if things get too wild.

If you do register as a user here we keep your email information private, and will be able to post. Registering requires a valid email address. Additionally we'll be adding features to specify what types of weather information you wish to see, along with graphics as time goes on.

There is a known problem with the "storm popup" summary at the top of the page that may require a reload. We are working on this. If you find other problems use the Site Suggestions and Questions board to let us know, or just email us. It is a work in progress. Thanks everyone.
View the old site... nothing new will be added here
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Actually, for a major system the answer is probably not. But this does not forgoe the need for education and preperations on a possible major system. Once again I must state my distaste for general overhyping of hurricanes by media or elsewhere. It must be tempered with facts to balance it out.

Most of the time, storms will approach and turn away, most of the time what we do get will be relatively minor, but every once in a while (thankfully it is fairly rare) a major one, such as Andrew, does come by, and in these instances all of the preperation pays off. Educating yourself on what these storms can't do, and don't usually do is just as much important on what they can. People tend to focus on the destruction that these are capable of rather than what they usually do.

Hyping leads to apathy when something that really has the potential of causing havoc approaches. And once again this is more of a fear to me rather than the actual system itself. If a dangerous storm approached and most listened to the warnings, then the destruction and death would be kept to a minimum. On the other hand, if after a string of missed calls, people were apathetic or not watching and something did come along... even a lesser system (ie a cat 3 vs a 4) is capable of causing more widespread havoc then as far as people's lives are concerned.

Many people will ask, I'm going to visit Florida on such and such date... will a storm hit then? I tell them no, but always watch the weather, it could change. These events are rare usually. One strange year could have us seeing multiple bad storms, or we could go for a string of a decade or more without a massive one hitting. Our goal isn't to create hype, or tell you that this is THE YEAR. Our goal is to give you facts from various weather sources, and opinions from us and others, and let you decide.

We try to refrain from getting caught up "in the hype", but we won't downplay possibilities either. If you agree or disagree with what people are saying about a particular system, then this forum gives you a chance to state why. And in hopes, educate others and allow them the final decision. We always state to listed to the official sources first, but as a supplimental guide, you and I can help prepare everyone.

Thanks to all who have visited our site in the past 7 years. We are designing a new back end system to help manage the volume and the signal to noise ratio during the season. We have created off topic areas for those who talk and eventually go way off topic. Those who spam repeatedly the same message over and over will be removed, and everyone else can talk storms and learn, and have fun.

Thanks,

- [mac]]

Edited by MikeC (Sat May 11 2002 01:07 AM)

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