EDITORIAL - Preparation, Mitigation

Last year at this time, we were still reeling from the relentless 2004 hurricane season. That was the year Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne all made landfall. It was “A Year Like No Other” we reported (see HP, Fall 2004, page 16). Back then, the 2005 season still lay ahead, and we could hardly imagine another season quite like the one we had just experienced. Well, guess what. The 2005 season was worse. There were fewer landfalling hurricanes last year, but 2005 stands as the costliest, most destructive hurricane season ever recorded.

    We’re tempted to say that won’t be repeated this year, but who knows? The pre-season outlook from the forecast team at Colorado State University warns that the 2006 hurricane season will be “very active” and above normal: nine major hurricanes are expected when the long-term average is only 2.3 (see page 13). The good news seems to be that fewer hurricanes are expected to make landfall this year, yet the likelihood that at least one Category 3, 4 or 5 storm will cross the U.S. coastline stands at 81 percent. Just where that might happen is anybody’s guess—there is a 65 percent chance it will be along the East Coast and a 47 percent chance it will be along the Gulf Coast.

    The best—and safest—bet is for everyone in storm-prone coastal areas to be prepared!

    Preparation is the only way to mitigate the potential damage caused by hurricanes and this year at the 4th Annual World of Hurricane Protection Trade Show & Educational Conference the hurricane protection and building industries come together to prepare for the seasons ahead. In addition to the newest products and technologies available to protect people and property and to build stronger, safer homes, there will be accredited seminars on wind-borne debris, the Florida residential building code and the 2005 supplement. Product approval, risk management and insurance mitigation also will be covered.

    Sponsored by the International Hurricane Protection Association (IHPA) and produced by Hurricane Protection magazine, the World of Hurricane Protection is the only trade and educational event focused solely on hurricane protection. It is the hands-on, see it, hear it, talk about it trade show in this important area. It is especially gratifying to us that others see it this way, too: This year the trade show floor sold out more than a month before the show!


Howard Shingle, EDITOR
Keri Caldwell, PUBLISHER