The mild 2006 Atlantic hurricane season draws to a close Thursday without a single hurricane striking the United States — a stark contrast to the record-breaking 2005 season that killed more than 1,500 people and left thousands homeless along the Gulf Coast.

Nine named storms and five hurricanes formed this season, and just two of the hurricanes were considered major.

Florida Emergency Management director Craig Fugate called the break welcome, but people along the coast shouldn't be fooled into thinking they won't get hit next year

"Past performance is no indicator of the future," Fugate said. "We're still in a decade period, or decades, of increased activity."

That is considered a near-normal season — and well short of the rough season government scientists had forecast.

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