FACTORS INHIBITING A NATIONAL HURRICANE POLICY

This article contrasts relatively disjointed federal policy dealing wi th the hurricane hazard with more coordinated federal policy dealing w ith earthquakes. A comparison between the two hazards is appropriate b ecause of important similarities. However, significant differences bet ween these disasters make the creation of national policy dealing with the hurricane hazard more difficult. These differences include distin ctive features of the hurricane hazard and, in particular features of the policy community that works on the hurricane hazard. Differences b etween the earthquake and hurricane policy communities reveal the fact ors that inhibit policymaking. Prospects for a more comprehensive nati onal policy to deal with the hurricane hazard are assessed.