Hurricane Price Tags Soaring On Crowded US Coast US: April 7, 2008 MIAMI - The damage caused to US coastal cities by hurricanes promises to rise into the stratosphere, raising concerns about a possible $500 billion storm and prompting calls for tougher building codes. Devastating hurricanes like 1992's Andrew and Katrina of 2005 have failed to put a dent in massive construction along the hurricane-vulnerable Atlantic and Gulf coasts, where millions of people face evacuation when a storm threatens.

With chances of conventional war becoming rare, the Centre has mooted a proposal to change the character of civil defence by giving its volunteers the responsibility of tackling disasters in addition to protecting people and property from external aggression or internal disturbances. Currently, the activities of civil defence is to provide necessary support to citizens in 124 selected cities at the time of external aggression. Under the proposed change, the Centre is plans to extend its activities to all 604 districts in the country.

More than 50 years after it was set up, Civil Defence is set to undergo a major shift in its duties with the Centre deciding to give its volunteers the responsibility of dealing with natural disasters

More than 50 years after it was set up, Civil Defence is set to undergo a major shift in its duties with the Centre deciding to give its volunteers the responsibility of dealing with natural disasters. Raised after the 1962 Sino-Indian war, its primary duty so far has been to protect people and property from external aggression.

Nearly 40,000 Katrina Families Still In Mobile Homes US: April 3, 2008 ORLANDO, Fla. - Almost three years after Hurricane Katrina, nearly 40,000 families still are living in vulnerable mobile homes and trailers across the US Gulf Coast with another hurricane season just two months away, the top US disaster official said on Wednesday.