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U .S. Hurricane Problem <br /> Population Growth <br /> The United States has a significant hurricane <br /> problem as the coastal population continues <br /> to rapidly increase. In Hawaii,shelter space <br /> cannot keep up with the increasing resident <br /> population and on any given day,there are <br /> over 100,000 visitors scattered throughout the <br /> State. Major communities,hotels and resorts, <br /> power plants,refineries,and other critical <br /> infrastructure lie within coastal evacuation t <br /> zones. Coastlines continue to fill with new i <br /> developments. These homes are waiting for # <br /> the next storm to threaten its residents'dreams. <br /> The most significant danger to coastal citizens �r <br /> is from a hurricane's storm inundation. <br /> Perception of Risk I <br /> Over the past several years,the hurricane <br /> _ a <br /> warning system has provided adequate time <br /> to notify people when hurricanes threaten. ' — • _ . .' <br /> However,it is becoming more difficult to IAA s %-h. <br /> evacuate people from coastal areas because - R <br /> road improvements have not kept pace with <br /> the rapid population growth.The problem is <br /> further compounded because 80 to 90 percent <br /> of the population now living in hurricane- <br /> prone areas have never experienced the core of <br /> a"major"hurricane. Many of these people have Waikiki Beach,December1969/NDAA <br /> been through weaker storms or only outer <br /> rain bands of intense hurricanes.The result is a <br /> false impression of a major hurricane's damage <br /> potential.This can lead to complacency and <br /> delayed actions resulting in injuries and loss of <br /> lives. <br /> 9 <br />