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Say Nothing About the Failing Satellite
The QuikScat satellite used for predicting the intensity and path of hurricanes could fail at any time (it's already past its designed lifetime). Without this satellite, the accuracy of US forecasters' predictions could be degraded by up to 16% — and there are no plans for any replacement. Bill Proenza, director of the National Hurricane Center, has been outspokenly critical of his superiors on this situation, but he has been warned to stop commenting on it.
As a native Floridian who still resides in FL, let me assure all /.ers, 16% worst prediction of the job they are currently doing won't mean squat. Their prediction of hurricane tracks has been horrid at best within any timeline of meaning preparedness time period. One has to take exhausting prep if it's coming for you, but you only have to do minor prep if it's passing within hundred miles. Had their predictions been on the nose, more or less, I would be horrified that they let a satelite go beyond it's expected life without having backups already in orbit. Having suffered getting my cage rattled or lead to believe it wouldn't hit here 12 hours before the Eyewall actually does hit, I'm not impressed with forecasting predictions. Therefore, 16% is meaningless to those of us who are sitting in the bulleye zone.