With peak hurricane season fast approaching, officials urge people to get ready now

HUNTINGTON, N.Y. - We're approaching peak hurricane season. 

The first Atlantic hurricanes tend to form in early to mid-August.

With warming waters, there could be less warning time, which means the ttime to prepare is right now. 

It's the calm before the inevitable storms. Weeks from now, the first major hurricanes will begin forming. An average season is forecasted: 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes. 

Above-normal water temperatures could mean less warning time, however.

"You could go from something pretty benign to develop into a tropical storm or even a low-end hurricane and impact the area in a matter of two, three days," Nelson Vas of the National Weather Service said. 

Town of Huntington Emergency Operations Center has hardened communications since Superstorm Sandy. It's storm-ready, and reminding residents now is the time to prepare. 

Wherever you live: 

• Know if you're in a low-lying neighborhood
• Create a plan
• Prepare a go bag

"You can leave your home for a few days and you have all of your medications, all of your necessities, you have some non-perishable foods," Town of Huntington Supervisor Edmund Smyth said.

Some tips you may not have thought of: 

"While you still have electricity, fill up containers with water. Freeze them so you have additional ice," Smyth said. "If you have young children, be prepared with games. Be prepared with candy. They're not going to have Internet - have cards." 

Also, prepare for wind damage. Don't touch downed trees and power lines. 

"Get your generators ready now. Don't wait for the storm to come. Make sure it works," Town of Huntington Highways Superintendent Andre Sorrentino said. 

"Haul your boat ... Vessels can be replaced, your life can't," Town of Huntington Harbormaster Fred Uvena said. "Do not ride out a hurricane on your boat." 

Check the FEMA and National Weather Service checklists. 

Long Islanders are reminded the last hurricane direct landfall was 1985 - Hurricane Gloria. 

"We should have a hurricane here up in this area probably landfall every 20 years, so we are overdue," Vas said. "What we saw with Sandy, with a major hurricane, potentially you could see double that in terms of the magnitude of storm surge." 

The National Weather Service will update the hurricane forecast in early August. No matter how many come our way, they warn it only takes one to be life-altering. 

You can also sign up for PSEG Long Island text messages and report outages by texting PSEGLI (773454) and text "REG".