As of Thursday afternoon, the second named tropical storm of 2019 was bearing down on the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Tropical Storm Barry was expected, at the time, to strengthen to a hurricane before making landfall Friday afternoon, with thousands of residents under voluntary or mandatory evacuations.

While the storm headed for Louisiana may seem a distant reality for Beaufort County residents, local people should take it as a warning of possible events in our own area.

During the coming Atlantic hurricane season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is forecasting between nine and 15 named storms in the Atlantic, of which four to eight could become hurricanes. Chances are, at least one of these storms will impact eastern North Carolina before all is said and done.

For many in our area, Hurricane Florence is still fresh on the mind. Some people in our own communities are still living with the consequences of that storm, unable to return to their homes.

While the season will not reach its peak until late summer and early fall, make no mistake — now is the time to prepare for the coming hurricane season.

This is the time of year when people should be thinking about hurricane risks to their property, developing evacuation plans, collecting supplies, strengthening their homes and reviewing their insurance policies.

Preparing for hurricanes in coastal communities isn’t just something a person does once a year. It’s a constant process that requires thought and planning year-round. Don’t wait until the storm is at your door to get ready. Now is the time to act.

For more details on how to prepare yourself for tropical weather threats, visit www.weather.gov/wrn/ or readync.org.