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[djkimmel]

Scientists Warn of Stronger Hurricanes

By Andrea Thompson, LiveScience

(Sept. 19) - The Caribbean and Gulf Coast have seen a spate of devastating hurricanes in recent years that have cost billions of dollars and thousands of lives. As residents recover from the latest hits, they may wonder about the potential for future Ikes and Katrinas.

Hurricanes, of course, are nothing new to the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, where tropical storms form between June and November each year. But many factors, both natural and man-made, can affect the number, strength, size and impact of the storms that form each season. For example, the recent surge in storms followed an almost two-decade lull that was part of a natural cycle in hurricane formation.

During that lull, new coastal residents built homes in what they thought was a paradise. But now they've found out just how susceptible they are to nature's wrath. And it looks like the situation might only get worse. More on AOL News

[djkimmel]

The same thing happens along the Great Lakes. People with more money than sense want to live along the shoreline. Hey... there's more shoreline now! Let's build closer!!

I've worked on wetlands issues for most of my adult life. The anger I've sometimes received on the other end of the line when I've called developers and dare get in the way of progress never ceases to dumbfound me. "It's just a stupid swamp" or "a worthless wetlands taking up 'valuable' space" they always say. I see wetlands and barrier lands as critically important things of beauty and I know we can do better.

Besides, guess who foots the bill when someone develops where they shouldn't and then gets destroyed by flooding or rising water...??

[Durand Dan]

Wetlands also provide a valuable sevice as filters for our aquafers. The more wetlands we eliminate the less fresh water we will be able to provide.