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Haiti Remains Top Concern As Storm Season Nears

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) – When hurricane season begins in June Haiti will be one of the top concerns, according to the director of the National Hurricane Center.

Bill Read said Friday that Haiti's ability to respond to tropical storms remains his greatest concern for the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season. Read also said that he wasn't sure Haiti had enough shelters if the earthquake-stricken Caribbean country took a direct hit from a hurricane.

Read joined emergency managers, meteorologists, first responders and government officials from around the U.S. in Fort Lauderdale this week to prepare for the six-month hurricane season that begins June 1.

Last year was one of the busiest hurricane seasons on record. Haiti, Mexico and some Caribbean islands suffered the worst storm damage.

No major hurricane has made a U.S. landfall since 2005. Read says he's worried that U.S. coastal residents have grown complacent and forgetful about their hurricane risks.

(© 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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