Florida - Hurricane Insurance
Phillip Davis reports on the political battle surrounding rising hurricane insurance rates in Florida. Florida insurers have used a scientific model they commissioned to argue that global warming means that Hurricane strength will continue to increase in the coming years, thus the need for rate increases. State meteorologists are not convinced. But efforts to get money appropriated for an independent state study have been killed by the insurance lobby.
Towns across the mountains of east Tennessee and North Carolina suffer severe flood damage.  Hurricane Frances had already saturated the ground in the region, and heavy rains from Ivan sent many rivers over their banks. Hear NPR's Chris Arnold.