Hurrican Season Ends -- But Not the Work

This year's Atlantic hurricane season officially ended on Sunday. With record numbers of consecutive storms and warmer ocean water, this year was the most active and deadliest since 2005. The Environmental News Service reports, "For the first time on record, six consecutive tropical cyclones (Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gustav, Hanna, and Ike) made landfall on the U.S. mainland and a record three major hurricanes (Gustav, Ike, and Paloma) struck Cuba. This is also the first Atlantic season to have a major hurricane (Category 3) form in five consecutive months."

While the waters may have calmed down, it's not time to relax, points out Florida governor Charlie Crist. Instead, meteorologists and government officials are using the information from this season to predict and prepare for the next. Furthermore, a large amount of cleanup remains necessary in some states.

Along the Texas coast, for example, a 30-mile debris pile lies festering and neglected, reports the AP. Bogged down in FEMA paperwork and unable to determine who is responsible for cleanup, counties and citizens are left bitter and fending for themselves. After getting a bad rep post-Katrina, the federal disaster-relief organization has improved somewhat but appears to be unable to find a way to streamline and consolidate efforts. Resources are stretched too thin and many areas remain neglected. Can FEMA rise to the occasion? Or is it doomed to drown in red tape?