FOR the second time in a month, residents of the Eastern United
States have had a graphic lesson in the progress meteorologists
have made over the past 50 years in tracking hurricanes, and in
the corresponding advances that state and local government, and
their leaders, have made in storm preparation. Both before and
after last week's storm, the governors of affected states
provided strong and calm leadership. The result produced a
measured and practical response by citizens, rather than fear,
to the prospect of a major storm. Calm pragmatism was a dominant
atmosphere in the Northeast in preparation for last Friday's
hurricane Gloria, as it had been last month in the Southeast,
when hurricane Elena was making its presence felt. In both cases
preparations had been thorough. The progress made over the years
in informing the public was sharply etched for veterans of the
major storm that swirled out of nowhere 47 years ago and lashed
southern New England's coast. Northeasterners were fortunate
that this past Frid