WASHINGTON, DC, September 13, 2000 - The findings and recommendations of The Weather Channel Forum on Hurricane Preparedness and Response, developed by the Atmospheric Policy Program of the American Meteorological Society (AMS), suggest that our nation is at serious risk of severe damage and loss of life caused by hurricanes. The forum report calls for an assessment of the vulnerability of communities with potential exposure to hurricanes and the development of improvements in the preparedness, prediction, communications, and response strategies at the national, regional, and local levels.

The report is the result of this two-day forum of more than 100 of the nation's top hurricane forecasters, emergency managers, public policy officials, media representatives, and research scientists. The experts discussed policy changes that are needed to significantly improve the weather services, media communications, and emergency management decisions involved in the national, regional, and local hurricane preparedness and response strategies.

"It is just a matter of time before a major hurricane strikes a vulnerable area causing tremendous damage and taking many lives. Our current systems for forecasting these major storms, getting the word to those in harms way, and getting them out of danger is inadequate to handle such a disaster," said Richard Greenfield, director of the AMS Atmospheric Policy Program. "Implementing the forum's recommendations would lead to changes that will save lives, property and dollars."

The principal findings from the forum are:

• Hurricane preparedness and response rely primarily on weather predictions and evacuation
• Present hurricane response strategies are increasingly strained
• The strains are forcing new hurricane response strategies
• There are major opportunities to improve hurricane response strategies

• There is poor understanding and application of uncertainties in hurricane forecasts, risk assessments, population responses, infrastructure capacities, and media coverage
• Policy changes could improve hurricane response in the near term
• Overall, the nation pays insufficient attention to hurricane preparedness and response.

Major recommendations from the forum are:

• Congress should call for a national assessment of hurricane preparedness and response
• FEMA should lead an effort, with its partner agencies, to strengthen the present system to a year-round, closely coordinated hurricane response system
• Future development of the hurricane preparedness, forecast, communications, and response system must address the full range of uncertainties
• Government agencies should implement policies to strengthen existing hurricane programs and response procedures
• Congress should develop national legislation to ensure funding for hurricane research, prediction, mitigation and response.

The AMS, with the support of The Weather Channel, is working with FEMA, NOAA, and the American Red Cross and other partners to implement the recommendations.

The complete report is available on the Internet at http://www.ametsoc.org/AMS under the 'Atmospheric Policy Program'.

The Weather Channel Inc., based in Atlanta, is the nation's premier provider of weather information. The only 24-hour international weather network, TWC is seen in more than 76 million homes nationwide. The Weather Channel is owned by Landmark Communications, Inc., a Norfolk, VA-based, privately held media company, with global interests. The Weather Channel's Web site, weather.com, is the world's leading source of weather on the Web, and one of the fastest growing sites on the Internet.

     Founded in 1919, the AMS is the preeminent scientific and professional organization for scientists and practitioners in the atmospheric sciences and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences. The Society publishes well-respected scientific journals, sponsors scientific conferences and supports public education programs across the country. Additional information on the AMS is available on the Internet at http://www.ametsoc.org/AMS