Well, being the informed guy I am, I just went out to the National Hurricane Center official website and took at look at what my government is providing me in the way of information.  I like good information.

And, well, it’s not a bad site.  Course, I am still wondering why the NHC prints all its advisories in upper case letters.  I think that has to do with teletype.  They broadcast their stuff to ships all over the world.  No doubt a fall back to old technology.  But it is interesting to think about.  For example, take a look at the header:

000
WTNT31 KNHC 161743
TCPAT1
BULLETIN
TROPICAL STORM FAY INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER   4A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL   AL062008
200 PM EDT SAT AUG 16 2008

I wonder what those first three 000s mean?

Then there are the next two lines:

WTNT31 KNHC 161743
TCPAT1

Hum. I don’t have a clue what they mean, so why are they there? Must mean something to somebody somewhere. It is a filing system? You know, a way to archive what they said? Course, I have no idea. I just want a plain English report. Maybe even in upper and lower case. After all it is a website. Course, it easier to just use what was sent out. Less work on the forecasters.

But let us read on.

Actually it’s not bad. Lots of very specific information.

But I tend to like graphics. You know, pictures of what is going to happen. Are they on the site?

Yep, and very well done.

Like this one.

Course, I’m not happy about this graphic, it suggests the storm is gonna pass right over my house!  Talk about information I don’t want to see.  Ugh.

But, at least the folks at the National Hurricane Center are keeping me informed.  And, I hate it when their stuff tells me that the future does not look good.

Course, about now, I am wondering just how well the folks FEMA are doing?  No doubt out buying some more trailers with lots of chemicals that harm kids, and wasting a ton of dollars on stuff we won’t need, and no doubt deep into finding ways not to supply stuff we need in advance to my Florida government, and most likely telling George W. that all is well.

There website is very informative.  Look at this “It’s not my problem statement.”

“FEMA acquired travel trailer, mobile homes and park models from a variety of retail and commercial sources in good faith and fully expected all units to comply with all relevant industry standards, best practices and regulations.  FEMA neither knowingly, nor willingly, purchased manufactured units from dealerships and manufacturers that contained levels of formaldehyde above existing construction standards, nor did FEMA’s specifications encourage non-compliance with such standards. We have been fully transparent in our actions on this issue.”

What the heck does “We have been fully transparent in our actions on this issue.” mean?  Transparent? Who was the idiot who wrote that sentence?

And, too, I’m just wondering about all the great insurance companies in the USA.  I am more than positive that they are gearing up for the storm, most likely somewhere in Europe at a conference.  If lucky, most residents in Florida will be able to get through to them sometime in 2012. Which reminds me, I must save my receipts, in a water-proof zip lock bag.  Yep, I may need them down the road.