When preparing for a hurricane or tropical storm, the size of the storm may be just as important as the category, officials from the National Weather Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration told about 100 people at the Hurricane Preparedness Forum Monday in Morgan City. Roger Erickson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, said people get fixated on the strength of storm but the size of the storm matters just as much especially in terms of local impact, he said. U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, RLafayette, along with the Port of Morgan City hosted the forum. Boustany said he holds forums annually in Lafayette and Lake Charles, but added the Morgan City forum because his 3rd Congressional District includes the city. Tim Osborn of NOAA said there are countless instances where storm category and storm surge do not match up. Storm surge builds on ocean tides, Osborn said. Hurricane Sandy showed how the East and Gulf coasts should work together in storm preparedness.

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