According to the National Automobile Dealers Association in an article in AutoRemarketing.com,  the effects from Tropical Storm Lee were not that bad on dealers in the Southeastern part of the United States and along the Gulf Coast, but that doesn't mean you can let your guard down when it comes to hurricane damaged used cars.

Yes, I am aware that Irene and Lee were both tropical storms when they hit ground but it's just easier to call the havoc they did to vehicles as hurricane damaged used cars. Consider it a kind of journalism shorthand. (Does anybody even do shorthand any more?)

With two major storms having struck a lot of the population in the United States in the past two weeks, there are going to hundreds of hurricane damaged used cars on the market in the coming months.

I have written about flood damaged used cars and hurricane damaged used cars.  Take a moment to read the articles if you're looking for advice. Then, take a moment and add your own advice below.

By the way, when is too much Mother Nature enough? I live in Connecticut. In the last month, we have had an earthquake and the effects of two tropical storms. (Just to add to the fun - about 20 miles north of me we had a tornado in June.) If I wanted this kind of weather, I'd move to California!

Familiar with the term "orphan" when it comes to used cars? It refers to new cars that are no longer being manufactured.

Such is the case with the Nissan Altima Hybrid that is being discontinued after the 2011 model year. What a shame. I always liked this particular midsize sedan, which is why I have proclaimed the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid to be the best used hybrid on the market.

Sure, some can quibble that the Toyota Prius gets better fuel economy and can actually cost a little less, but pound for pound, the Nissan Altima Hybrid is the better vehicle, even if it is now an orphan.

Other orphans out there would include the Saturn line, Oldsmobiles, Pontiacs and Mercurys. The latter, frankly, is probably the best of the used orphan lineup because all Mercurys were basically rebadged Fords. Under the hood, which is most important when it comes to used cars, there is little difference.

What other orphans can you think of that you would buy as a used car? Comment below.

It's not often you read some semblance of breaking news in this blog but I have unearthed a little tidbit about Mazda's certified pre-owned program.

In an interview with Eric Watson, head of Mazda's certified pre-owned program, I asked the question, Do you see OEMs like Mazda extending the number of years a used car can be sold as certified?

His answer, in effect, was Mazda is going to increase the value of its certified pre-owned program. In other words, the vehicles aren't going to get older.

Frankly, that puzzles me because vehicles get better every year. Why not offer older cars for certification?

Then again, brighter minds than mine run car companies. I assume they have their reasons for not going older.

What do you think? Will there be a trend towards older certified pre-owned cars going forward from manufacturers? Comment below.

Feelings of mixed relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene because no friends or family were hurt that I am aware of. Part of me is somewhat saddened, though, by what is going to happen in the used car market place.

Scammers are going to abound now. They are going to try to pass off hurricane damaged used cars and flood-damaged used cars as being pristine. Unsuspecting consumers are going to get ripped off for thousands of dollars individually, which means probably hundreds of millions of dollars in consumer fraud.

Officials acted quickly in the wake of Hurricane Katrina (such as with Illinois salvage titles). It's still early as I write this but I have to believe the impact from Hurricane Irene on the used car market is bound to be larger because damage stretches from North Carolina to Northern New England.

I've posted a piece about not buying a hurricane-damaged used car. Let's hope it can be updated in the near future with news about our elected leaders passing consumer protection laws that prevent these vehicles from being moved around the country on unsuspecting used car buyers.