DANGER ZONES

Where is America most vulnerable to a hurricane strike? The
International Hurricane Research Center (IHRC) -- the official
center for Florida's 11 universities that works alongside the National
Hurricane Center -- created a list of the nation's 10 most vulnerable
areas. To create the list, the IHRC looked at 12 criteria, though historic
hurricane frequency, storm intensity and levee/dike failure were primary
determinants. Other considerations include factors such as storm surge
and freshwater flooding potential, coastal erosion trends and island
breaching history. Socioeconomic factors involved populations at risk,
evacuation distance and routes. Of the 10 areas, Florida netted four
spots, though the greatest danger -- no surprise here -- is to New
Orleans. The rankings, in order, include:

1. New Orleans
2. Lake Okeechobee
3. Florida Keys
4. Coastal Mississippi
5. Miami/Fort Lauderdale
6. Galveston/Houston, Texas
7. Cape Hatteras, N.C.
8. Eastern Long Island, N.Y.
9. Wilmington, N.C.
10. Tampa/St. Petersburg


Dick Davis
http://www.HomesOfVeroBeach.com