The six-month Atlantic hurricane season starts Friday, and forecasters have predicted an above-average year: 13 to 17 named storms, with seven to 10 of them becoming hurricanes and three to five of those major ones of at least Category 3 strength with winds above 111 mph (179 kph). One forecaster said odds were high that a major hurricane would hit the U.S. this year.

Nevertheless, 53 percent of those surveyed in 18 Atlantic and Gulf Coast states say they do not feel that they are vulnerable to a hurricane, or to related tornadoes and flooding, according to the Mason-Dixon poll.

Eighty-eight percent said they had not taken any steps to fortify their homes, and 45 percent still mistakenly believed that masking tape helps keeps windows from shattering during hurricanes.

 Source : Live Science