Here is the Story of a Hurricane Planet Earth is under attack from the very entities charged with its protection. Humans are systematically destroying the planet and are deaf to its so far relatively subtle warnings. When temperatures rise by even a fraction of a degree, or the amount of annual precipitation increases by just an inch or two, these changes may be imperceptible. However, when these small changes accumulate over a period of years, they can result in rare natural disasters in some geographic areas. Ocean temperatures have been steadily rising for years. These temperature changes have the potential to irrevocably change weather patterns for the entire world. In August 2011, Hurricane Irene gave much of the U.S. East Coast a taste of what changes in global weather patterns can cause. The hurricane showed many communities how unprepared and ill-equipped they are to deal with such a storm, and served as a wake-up call for the human race to take better care of the planet. A case study of these accomplishments can be seen through the prism of severe weather events at the Humane Society of Ocean City. The Humane Society of Ocean City is a small animal shelter that takes in homeless dogs and cats and adopts them to new, permanent homes. The shelter also serves as a refuge for a resident population of fifty-eight cats suffering from various disabilities or chronic illnesses. The refuge's main building sits along the bay that separates Ocean City from the mainland. Ocean City, New Jersey is located on a barrier island off the coast of Cape May County, New Jersey. The city has always been famous for its restrictions on the sale of alcohol throughout the city and for its family atmosphere... middle of paper... its patterns change around the world, it will be much more than Ocean City and an animal shelter that supports its effects. The planet's warning calls must be heeded, otherwise all of humanity could witness similar upheavals. Crops will die or need to be moved to new locations, wildlife populations will die, buildings will collapse, and natural resources will become unavailable. Maybe not today, and maybe not tomorrow, or all at once, but future generations of humans will be left to face the problem that their ancestors were too lazy and stubborn to solve. Rather than ignore the planet's cries, the world's population must work together to ensure that every possible step is taken to reverse the trend it has created. Choosing to ignore this crisis any longer could cause the entire world to be swept away by a figurative and literal tidal wave..