Hurricane Season Cancelled Due to FEMA Budget Cuts

From Wikimedia.

In order to recover funds during the current fiscal year, the White House mandated that the Federal Emergency Management Agency cancel the Atlantic hurricane season for 2014.

This period of the year, which begins in early June and ends in late November, is usually when people on the East Coast of the United States have to be very cautious and prepare for high winds, heavy rain, and flooding. The season can be especially destructive in the Southeastern corner of the United States. In just the four years, various hurricanes have caused multiple deaths and over one hundred billion dollars in damage. Because 2013 was a very light year for hurricanes and hurricane-related damage, the decision was made to forgo the season altogether this year.

"It's a relief," Sean Bodel, owner of an independent hardware store in Miami, Florida, said about the cancellation. "But it will hurt my business a little. Won't be going through duct tape and plywood in droves during September as much."

Not everyone is happy about the decision, however. International contractors who often win government contracts for repairs needed after a hurricane are speaking out against it. Billions of dollars go into such repairs, and the loss of government business will be a tough pill to swallow.

"These are a regular part of our sustenance," said Jeffry Johnson, a representative of URS Corporation. "You can't announce information like this right as the season was supposed to start. It's very irresponsible. These are local, American jobs being lost that we're talking about, here."