Earlier, Dr. Spinrad, you were talking about the importance of measuring the winds at the surface of the ocean as a means of trying to predict the direction and intensity of hurricanes.

We've had La Nina, the cold Pacific waters. Your bulletin, dated just a week or so ago, says, that El Nino is arriving.

Hurricanes are amongst the most destructive natural phenomena on earth.

Hurricane Katrina caused at least ten oil spills, dumping in total more than 7.4 million gallons into the Gulf Coast region's waterways.

And you might discuss whether or not you think we're making progress on reducing hurricane impacts.

Statistically, yes, sir.

What is the relationship, if any, between climate change and hurricanes?

I think this has tremendous impact on what we want to do in the future, as we think about what sort of mitigating steps we're going to take.

A decade ago, European insurance companies were getting more interested in the effects upon their economic activities more so than were American insurance companies.

So, it's fair to say that the reinsurance industry would not support the bills that we've introduced with regard to the Federal Government giving a loan guarantee to the States for their hurricane catastrophe funds.

the insurance industry is split on this issue, on what we're talking about here.

It seems to me that one of the--one of the real values of the public model, where emphasis really ought to be placed is on what the public values are, here.