Hurricane season opener

Did you know the names of hurricanes are already set through 2012? So, here comes Bertha, the Atlantic’s first tropical storm this year to reach hurricane status. Bertha’s weakening, then maybe strengthening, and is currently headed toward Bermuda. Hurricane expert and UNC Press author Jay Barnes is our go-to person for hurricane info. He recently made an appearance on WUNC-TV’s North Carolina People, hosted by William Friday. A podcast of Barnes’s appearance on the show is available online.

We’ve got a great collection of information on our special hurricane website:

• Test your hurricane IQ with an online hurricane quiz;
• see Jay’s suggestions for finding more hurricane info online;
• read a Q&A session with Jay Barnes (it might help you score better on the quiz!);
• and read fascinating excerpts from Jay’s three books: North Carolina’s Hurricane History, Florida’s Hurricane History, and (co-edited with Richard Moore) Faces from the Flood: Hurricane Floyd Remembered.