Don't be lulled into believing that the slow start to the hurricane season means the U.S. is going to be free of the dangerous storms and major damage this year.

Hurricane Dean, the first major hurricane of this season, went too far south to cause much damage to the U.S. But it's still early in the season, which doesn't end till November. In fact, the height of the season doesn't occur until September.

The updated 2007 outlook calls for a likely range of 13 to 16 named storms, seven to nine hurricanes and three to five major hurricanes.

Your property or relatives may be in a hurricane-prone area. If so, you should already have plans for getting up-to-the-minute information about the weather. That probably should not involve the Internet, as hurricanes are likely to cause major power interruptions and cut off access to the World Wide Web. A battery-powered radio is probably your best bet for the latest information.

You may simply be awed and mesmerized by the power of hurricanes or you might want to know more about these storms in preparation for the time that one strikes. In either event, the World Wide Web offers a growing number of sites that can provide you with all the information you need. And there are places where you can get up-to-the-minute news about them, from the time they form until they present an imminent danger to the Americas.

No matter what site you decide on for your hurricane and tropical storm information on the Internet, it's a virtual certainty that much of what you see will be coming initially from the National Hurricane Center and Tropical Prediction Center at www.nhc.noaa.gov. It's here the government posts the latest forecasts, warnings and analyses of tropical storms. Because of the scientific nature of such predictions, some, if not most, of what you'll normally see here is for scientists and meteorologists. But if you want to see it first and don't mind wading through a few scientific terms, this is the place to go for all the hurricane and tropical storm news.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency takes on the task of explaining hurricanes in language that kids can understand at www.fema.gov/kids/hurr.htm. The site not only explains how these storms are formed and how powerful they are, but it also gives kids good basic information about how to prepare for and survive them.

Hurricane City at www.hurricanecity.com may be the most unusual of all the hurricane sites. When a hurricane prowls the Atlantic, the Caribbean or the Gulf of Mexico, this Web site offers live audio from the radio stations in cities that are in the track of the big storm. Thus, you can listen to what's happening to prepare for the storm and listen to news of the aftermath from ground zero.

Site yields amazing mazes

It will soon be autumn and that means harvest time. But for an increasing number of families, it means a trip to a cornfield maze. Tackling cornfield mazes has become a family event in many parts of rural America. The mazes are nearly ready and you may be able to find one in your area at www.cornfieldmaze.com. An association of those who have grown and designed more than 330 cornfield mazes in America sponsors the site. The site even offers tips on how to develop a cornfield maze of your own.

Fun to be had by all

Funology at www.funology.com is dedicated to "the science of having fun," according to the site creators. The kid-safe site offers jokes, games, magic, tricks, trivia, recipes and more. It's a place where kids can find not only online activities but ideas for offline activities as well. And teachers might find the site useful as a classroom aid and a learning tool for their students.

It all adds up here

Whether you're a student, teacher or just someone who is stumped by math in general, Math.com at www.math.com may help. Students will find math homework help. Teachers will find tips on teaching the subject. Parents will find a place to learn about teaching math at home. And everyone will find help with solving everyday math problems they might run into around the house or in their work. And to sharpen your math skills, there are math puzzles and math tricks.

— Find something online you think others should know about? Or do you have a question? Let Dave Peyton know. His e-mail address is davepeyton@davepeyton.com.