Tropical Storm Wilma; Record tying 21st named storm of the season.

Tracking Tropical Storm Wilma

AP: Tropical Storm Wilma formed Monday in the northwestern Caribbean, tying the record for the most storms in an Atlantic season and following a path that some forecasters believe could menace the Gulf Coast next week as a hurricane.

Wilma is the 21st named storm of the season. The only other time that many storms have formed since record keeping began 154 years ago was in 1933. At 8 a.m. EDT, Wilma had top sustained wind near 40 mph, just above the threshold for tropical storms. It was centered about 205 miles southeast of Grand Cayman and drifting south near 5 mph, but was expected to turn to the southwest or west within the next day.

Long-term forecasts show the storm heading into the Gulf of Mexico by the weekend. Forecasters said high water temperatures and other conditions were favorable for it to become a significant hurricane.

Reuters: Tropical Storm Wilma may enter Gulf of Mexico

Four of seven major weather models predict Tropical Storm Wilma, which formed in the Caribbean Sea earlier Monday, would slam into the Yucatan Peninsula in either Mexico or Belize later this week. After crossing the Yucatan, some of the models projected the storm might enter the Gulf of Mexico.

First the Gulf Port Region and Now New England, Heavy Flooding causes havoc

Heavy rains and East Coast flooding have left 14 missing as residents in New England towns access the damage and search for unaccounted individuals.

Residents began assessing the damage left by deadly flooding that tore up highways, swept away houses and tossed boulders and vehicles around like toys. More than a dozen people remained unaccounted-for in hard-hit southwest New Hampshire.

Due to the non-stop heavy rains that caused damage and destruction in New Hampshire, NH Governor Lynch has asked for a federal disaster declaration, which would make the state eligible for federal reconstruction help.

The most severe flooding in the state was in and around Keene, where some major roads were under as much as 4 to 6 feet of water, officials said. The city had no electricity and reverberated with the sounds of generators and pumps Monday when Gov. John Lynch visited.

From Friday evening through Sunday, rainstorms dumped as much as 9 to 10 inches on New England and the mid-Atlantic states. In New Hampshire, the storm dropped 10.8 inches in Hinsdale and 10.5 inches in Keene.

Many areas Looked Like New Orleans, but it was not, At Least 10 Feared Dead In Northeast Floods.

If you think it looks familiar, look again. No its not New Orleans or the Gulf Coast regions. It is New England. To be specific, its Keene, NH. Known this time of year for its picturesque fall foliage and leaf peepers; this weekend tragedy and mother nature struck.

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The Media wants Katrina to Last Forever, or at least 3 more years

The Washington Post today has a page one story on the effect of the economy by the Hurricane Katrina, saying that consumer spending fell .1% for the month, and stating that this is the lowest since 9/11. This may be true in a purely short term viewpoint, however, since the hurricane, there has been a housing boom in the southeast.

Consumer spending plunged in August at the steepest monthly rate since the 2001 terrorist attacks as Hurricane Katrina slashed incomes, fanned inflation and caused $170 billion in losses from property damage, the Commerce Department reported yesterday in its first tally of the storm’s economic effects.

With the necessary relocation of so many people, the property values of the rest of the southeast have been seeing a huge increase, as the housing supply is very low. That, combined with a huge speculation market in the affected areas, and the huge coming influx of federal and state relief dollars, will create a positive impact on the economy of the country.

The ability of the major media to project disaster at every turn, portray every statistic into a worst case scenario, and every positive occurance is the worst possible light is bordering upon the absurd. The tragedy in the Gulf region has been well documented, not something that is wished upon by anyone.

However, the measure of our country is how we respond to these instances. And the United States responds magnificently. As federal relief dollars pour in and the infrastructure is rebuilt, the economy of the gulf will rebound and improve. The Red Cross and other charities will provide the short term relief for those affected. Countless others through their community organizations and churches will provide other services needed.

We are a strong and wonderful society. We help other countries and ourselves without questions. If only the media would remember that this is a story and provide some positive reinforcement to the society. Instead, they nit pick and look for the worst possible news everyday. I truly believe that is the media presented America in positive terms we would achieve great heights.

But that can not happen until George Bush is out of the White House.

George Bushes Call for Conservation Has Some Tourist Destinations Nervous

There is fear out there by the areas of the country are concerned about President Bushes call for fuel conservation. Locations from Maine to Michigan to Myrtle Beach are fearful that the high price and difficulty getting fuel will hurt their prospects for tourism.

So the dream that a Republican President could call for conservation has led to a huge outcry by the NIMBY crowd. States like Maine that have opposed any business that is not green, now is in a panic.

The Kennebec Journal is nervous, as the state of Maine loses all of the manufacturing and professional business, they are so reliant on tourism to support the state, they are getting nervous. Even their license plates have changed from the pine tree state to vacationland.

Read More at The Travel Bloggers on this Story.

Picking up the pieces after Hurricane Rita

The residents and business owners alike pick up the pieces and survey the destruction following the onslaught of Hurricane Rita. Although not as damaging, thankfully, as predicted there is still much to repair in Gulf Coast region.

More than a million people were without electricity and many coastal towns suffered major storm damage after the second ferocious hurricane to sweep off the Gulf of Mexico in less than a month slammed ashore early Saturday.

I think we can all give a sigh of relief that the damage and loss of life was not as bad as the the previous Hurricane Katrina or as any had predicted. There was a much greater preparation for Hurricane Rita than Katrina as thankfully both local, state and federal government officials learned from Hurricane Katrina. Also the citizens of the Gulf coast evacuated in mass in advance of Hurricane Rita.

Roofs were ripped off in the winds, businesses were razed by fire and floods spread through low-lying towns, but the region’s vital oil infrastructure was relatively unscathed and there were few reports of casualties.

Texas Governor Rick Perry told the Fox news channel:

“The good news is it appears that there’s been no loss of life. I mean, that’s almost a miracle, a blessing.” “The cleanup effort is just beginning. And we want to ask people to stay where they are. Don’t be coming back into this area, certainly. It’s still dangerous.”

AP: Texas, La. Begin Cleaning Up After Rita

>>>>Airlines Resume Houston Flights after Hurricane Rita

In the aftermath of Hurricane Rita, Commercial airlines resumed service Sunday at Houston airports that were shut down Friday before Hurricane Rita landed. Houston’s main airports, Bush Intercontinental and Hobby, were not significantly damaged as the storm shifted east and skirted the city, airline officials said.

>>>>Florida Keys Ready to Welcome Visitors After Hurricane Rita

Officials in the Florida Keys urged tourists to wait until today to travel to the area after it was sideswiped by Hurricane Rita on Tuesday.