For those of us still licking our wounds from the April tornado, it’s hard to contemplate the possibility of another natural disaster. But, like it or not, the 2011 hurricane season is already here.

Gloucester and Mathews counties have been fortunate in recent years, with no major hurricanes since 2003, when Isabel left a path of destruction in her wake. Hurricane season officially began on June 1 and, so far, with the exception of Hurricane Arlene in Mexico, there’s been little tropical activity to speak of in the Atlantic basin.

The experts think that’s going to change. As many as 18 named tropical storms are expected this season, with six to 10 strengthening into hurricanes and three to six becoming major hurricanes, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted.

What can we do? Assemble a disaster supply kit and develop an evacuation plan. Details are available on the National Hurricane Center’s website (www.nhc.noaa.gov). Being prepa...