This is a far cry from the devastation of 2005 when 28 tropical storms formed, besting the old record of 21 set in 1933. The hurricane season doesn't officially conclude until the end of this month and the experts warn that there's still the possibility of another storm before then. But they all go out on a limb, stating that it's “not probable.”

As expected, October was quiet, storm-wise, “largely due to developing El Nino conditions in the central and eastern Pacific,” offered Philip Klotzbach, who now leads Gray's research team. “November activity in El Nino years is very rare.” Now that's a comforting thought.

Art Bailey of the Tampa Bay newspaper Seminole Beacon cautions, “Do we sense a reprieve … ? No way, although cautious optimism is on the rise, even though tropical depressions continue to roll off the western coast of Africa, much like a factory assembly line, until the long-awaited factory whistle signals 'the end of the shift' come November 30. Unless, of course, 'overtime kicks in' as was the scenario last year after running the gamut of named storms and into the Greek alphabet. Hopefully this year, William won't make the cut.”

How will this non-season affect our industry, specifically the independent adjuster ranks? It remains to be seen, but the limited amount of work for them could shrink their numbers, causing a serious shortage when hurricane activity picks up again. Then again, it just might raise the collective intelligence of the field by effectively eliminating opportunistic adjusters who, lacking money-making opportunities, fall back on other career opportunities.