Cited: MSNBC

The Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1 and it may be a busy one with more than 23 named tropical storms predicted, including up to 7 major hurricanes, according to the US government.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted that eight to 14 storms would strengthen into hurricanes, with top winds of 74 mph (119 kph) or higher. Three to seven of those could become major storms that reach Category 3 or higher — meaning they bring sustained winds of at least 111 mph (179 kph).

“If this outlook holds true, this season could be one of the more active on record,” NOAA administrator Jane Lubchenco said in a statement. “The greater likelihood of storms brings an increased risk of a landfall. In short, we urge everyone to be prepared.”

A hurricane might help break up the oil spill staining the Gulf of Mexico, but the oil won’t affect significantly how tropical storms develop, forecasters said. They don’t know what kind of environmental hazards to expect, though there are fears that winds and waves could push the oil deeper into estuaries and wetlands — possibly destroying the coastal marshes that act as a buffer against catastrophic storm surges.

Government scientists said Thursday that anywhere from 500,000 gallons to 1 million gallons a day has been leaking from the site where an oil rig exploded April 20, killing 11 people. BP PLC, which leased the rig and is responsible for the cleanup and the Coast Guard previously had estimated the flow was about 210,000 gallons per day.

The expanding slick already has coated wildlife and marshes in Louisiana, but Lubchenco said the spill is still small relative to hurricanes — which sometimes can span the entire Gulf.

‘Don’t take anything for granted’

Although some oil could be pushed inland by a storm as it makes landfall, it could be difficult to determine whether it leaked from flooded cars or factories, Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Craig Fugate said.

The 2010 government forecast is based on the weakening of El Nino. The Pacific Ocean phenomenon created strong wind shear that helped suppress storm development in the Atlantic last season. Record warm water temperatures also will feed storms crossing the Atlantic this year.

Three hurricanes developed out of nine tropical storms in 2009. None of the hurricanes came ashore in the United States. Hurricane Ida hit Nicaragua as a Category 1 storm in November.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist urged coastal residents to remember the destruction left in the wake of hurricanes in 2004 and 2005.

Off Topic Breach: Looting can be a problem after any natural disaster. Many people can be arrested who have done nothing because of looting. If you’re one of these people you may need to contact a Texas criminal defense attorney. If you or loved one has been arrested, a Dallas drug crimes lawyer is here to assist you.

“Don’t take anything for granted,” Crist said at the annual Florida Governor’s Hurricane Conference in Fort Lauderdale. “We don’t need to suffer from hurricane amnesia.”

‘Hell of a year’ for hurricanes, experts warn.

National Hurricane Center Director Bill Read said Wednesday that his biggest concern for the season is a storm striking Haiti, where hundreds of thousands of people have been living in makeshift camps since the Jan. 12 earthquake. Heavy rains can trigger serious flooding and mudslides in the mountainous Caribbean country, but no evacuation plans exist for displaced communities.

Tropical storms are named when their sustained winds reach 39 mph. The first named storm of the 2010 season will be Alex.

In April, Colorado State University researchers predicted 15 named storms would form this season, with four developing into major hurricanes.

From June 1 to November 30, the Atlantic hurricane season will reign over the seas.

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My Take: I am glad that I do not live on the East Coast. It seems the people that live on the East Coast during the hurricane season have a lot to worry about. If they happen to get hit by a hurricane, they have to do a lot of repairs. Right now, I live in a mobile home and that would probably mean replacing it if I lived in East Coast.

I have seen news reports of the aftermath of hurricane and it does not look like fun. A lot of those people have to do Littleton CO basement remodeling because it’s flooded. I would love to have a house with a basement, out West where you really don’t have hurricanes. At least out West, basement remodeling Colorado would not entail repairing water damage, unless a water pipe broke.

I can just imagine what the insurance rates are for homes and cars in hurricane alley. I would definitely want to get several car insurance quote online just to get the cheapest. Then again, cheap auto insurance is hard to come by if you have a lot of tickets, which I do not have. You probably could not get cheap home insurance either. At least after the storm is over the wrecked cars can be towed away. A damaged house stays put. Car disposal is so much easier than house disposal, with a house you have to rebuild.

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Other Resources

Storm Doors

A storm door is a type of door that is installed in front of an exterior access door to protect it from bad weather and allow ventilation. Storm doors typically have interchangeable glass panels and window screen panels to provide visibility and prevent flying insects from entering the home. Adding a storm door can be a good investment if your existing front entry door is old but still in good condition. You could, however, replace the old door with one of the various decorative glass door and a for added beauty.

If this truck driver had gone to a truck driving school in NY, he probably would have known to look for restricted roads. Unfortunately, on April 1 this driver took a road that is clearly marked off-limits to big rigs when he crossed the San Gabriel Mountains. While descending the mountains his brakes gave out.

The big rig slammed into cars and then into a bookstore in La Canada Flintridge, CA injuring 14 people, two of which died. One of the cars involved in the crash carried a 12-year-old girl and her father, both died. The truck driver has been charged with vehicular manslaughter in Southern California. I saw the photograph with firefighters standing around the crash site and it was a big mess.

This truck driver will spend up to 12 years in prison for each count he is charged with. It seems that if he had gone to an academy driving school in NY he would not be in this situation. He would have known to look for the restricted signs as well as known to check his rig and brakes more because he was going on to a downhill grade.

My brother was once a truck driver and he has told me that truck drivers know to stop at the top of a downgrade an uphill grade to check their rig. They need to make sure that all their connections are made between the trailer and the truck, all tires are properly inflated, and all running lights are working properly before continuing. One thing is for sure, this truck driver will never be found behind the wheel of a truck again.

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Other Resources

Vicarious Liability

The word ‘vicarious’ means to ‘change’ or ‘alter in some way’ and in tort law refers to the idea of one person being liable for the harm caused by another because of a legally relevant relationship such as parent/child or employer/employee. You can sue an employer for the damage to you by their employee, which was caused ‘in the course of employment.’ For example, in a slip and fall in a supermarket, one could sue the employee who actually spilled the liquid or sue the supermarket. In the aforementioned case, the latter option is more practical as they are more likely to have more money. The law says that an employer is responsible for employees actions while on the job. You should contact Portland OR personal injury attorneys for more information.

Who Gets the House?

In a divorce that involves children, the parent who receives custody, spends the most time with them and provides their primary care will get the house. If there are no children, and the house was purchased or inherited prior to marriage than it is considered separate property and the spouse who owns it can ask the other to leave. If both own the house, it could get a little tricky. If you cannot come to a decision, the court will decide for you during the divorce proceedings. Texas divorce lawyers can explain in more detail what is and is not community property. The main problem with community property is one spouse is cannot come to an agreement.

New Auto Insurance

When you are looking to replace or get new auto insurance you need to get several auto insurance quotes. You want one that fit your budget or is more affordable. As you may well know, obtaining car insurance quotes online is fairly quick, efficient and can also save you up to 25% on your premiums. There are many companies that offer free auto insurance quotes that have a large library of auto insurance related articles that can help you make the right decision. It is a good idea to read some of these articles.

Slip and Fall Injuries

A slip and fall injury is simply when a person trips, slips or falls and is injured due to a hazardous are unsafe condition of property. Los Angeles personal injury attorneys can explain in great detail that these types of injuries are usually a result of broken handrails, poor lighting, slippery or wet floors and other unsafe conditions. Every property owner has a legal obligation and responsibility to ensure that their property is free of hazards or dangers that could injure a person under California law. Any one of several Los Angeles injury attorneys will tell you that if a property owner fails to keep the premises safe or remedy this situation within a reasonable amount of time, they can be held liable for damages.

Houston Attorneys

A nationally renowned team of Texas personal injury attorneys works to maintain the rights of accident victims to ensure that they receive fair compensation for their losses. For the past 20 years, a Texas wrongful death lawyer has represented thousands of accident victims all over the State. Houston is their favorite city to practice law in as they feel that the relationships they have made with their Houston clients and in the local court system are the best of any city in Texas. They want their clients to know that if they need legal help in Houston, they are the firm they can count on.

Experienced and Effective Defense

The Texas criminal attorneys have worked to preserve the rights of the accused for the past 20 years. From their law office in Dallas, they have helped thousands of clients all over The State of Texas. Their primary goal in every single criminal defense case is to ensure that their clients get the fair and just treatment as promised by the Constitution of the United States of America. Armed with a vast knowledge of State and local laws, they will put forth every effort to keep you out of jail. If you or a loved one has been accused of a crime or is facing a trial, investigation, arrest, jail time, or indictment, contact a Texas criminal defense attorney now!