The late spring is the beginning of hurricane season. By the time this is published, the spring tornado season will be well underway. This year it arrived early, with devastating storms throughout the South and the Midwest during the winter months. Winter also brought horrible blizzards and 20-foot snowfalls to the Midwest and the East. However, winter also brought some closure to the wildfire and mudslide season in the West. Springtime also means floods, and those seem to be right on schedule.

Well, of course the guy who said, "It's an ill wind that blows nobody good," was not thinking of the independent insurance adjusters who make their living handling these weather-related catastrophes. The "ill winds" are also a mainstay of home-repair businesses, construction supply firms, and the manufacturers of mops and snow shovels. Given the early 2008 economic downturn, "ill winds" may actually be a good economic stimulus; just don't tell the insurance industry that.

The President and Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency have been busy stumbling over their own feet regarding the lack of progress with New Orleans flood damage and the apparent desire for survivors to continue living in trailers reeking of formaldehyde. Meanwhile, two states away, Florida's housing market is so dismal that thousands of smaller homes are sitting vacant. Shouldn't someone in Washington realize that maybe there is a solution to this housing problem after all?