The United States possesses the most capable research enterprise, the largest economy, and the most sophisticated societal infrastructure in the world, yet it remains notably vulnerable to catastrophic damage and loss of life from natural hazards. Among weather hazards, hurricanes account for over half of the total damage inflicted. Despite their destructive power, certainty of future occurrence, and advances made during the past decade in meteorological understanding and prediction, still relatively little is known about the most important aspects of hurricanes from an integrative perspective, including their internal dynamics and interactions with the larger-scale atmosphere and ocean; methods for quantifying and conveying uncertainty and mitigating hurricane impacts; associated short and long term consequences on the natural and built environment; and the manner in which society responds before, during, and after landfall. In this document, the Board presents an agenda for action--a National Hurricane Research Initiative (NHRI)--that will provide urgently needed hurricane science and engineering research and education that engages relevant agencies across the Federal government; involves industry, academia, and other levels of government; establishes highly focused priorities; strengthens disciplinary research; creates multidisciplinary frameworks for studying the hurricane in an integrative fashion; and stimulates the efficient transfer of research outcomes to operational practice. The following are appended: (1) U.S. Hurricane and Earthquake Research Funding (2001-2006); (2) Proposed New Investments for the National Hurricane Research Initiative; and (3) National Hurricane Research Initiative Research Programs. (Includes 5 photos, a list of acronyms used, 55 endnotes, and a list of photo captions.)