Don't want to downplay the danger of the hurricane, but did you ever notice that severe weather becomes more newsworthy if it happens on the east coast. Texas had months of triple digit heat this summer, we had weeks of it here in Missouri, but when New York hit 100 for a few days, it hit the national news. Last winter, we had several snowstorms of 6-8 inches, but when the east coast gets a storm like that, again it hits the national news. Just about every spring, we get at least one T-storm with 6-8 inches of rain and 80 mph winds and nary a mention on the news. Guess we just aren't important. 
