It's ironic that Barnwell County would come under a severe storm warning from the National Weather Service on June 1.

Lightning flashed, the skies darkened and rumbled and the purpled clouds pour forth sudden gushes of rain. Once again, nature showed its strength.

However, Monday's storm is mere muscle-flexing compared to the well-placed punch of a tornado or the relentless pummeling of a hurricane.

The irony is that June 1 begins hurricane season, which runs until Nov. 30.

Nature - if nothing else - is capricious and could spawn a hurricane outside this six-month window of time, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has determined that 97 percent of hurricane activity occurs within these months.

For 2009, NOAA predicts a "near-normal" hurricane season.

However, it only takes one hurricane making landfall in this region and people will then have many adjectives to describe this hurricane season. "Normal" won't be one of those adjectives used. Try something more like "devastating," "catastrophic" or worse "killing."

A "near-normal" season according to NOAA consists of 11 named storms, including six that become hurricanes with two of these turning into major hurricanes.

Regardless of whether it is an upcoming hurricane or a severe storm warning like the one from Monday night, families should be prepared in several ways.

One, every house should have a "hurricane box" that contains essentials to (pardon the pun) weather the effects of bad weather. The hurricane box should contain drinkable water, candles, matches, nonperishable foods, spare clothes, extra batteries, a flashlight and a weather radio.

There's a lot more a person can put in the box or do to prepare for nature's worst, whether it's a hurricane or tornado that disrupts electricity and the normal structure of society for days or weeks at a time. A person should prepare for an emergency as if they must be self-sustaining for several days, because that may be the case. Families should store up at least three days of supplies (besides food, it should include extra portions of medicine and some cash) and water because it might be that long before services are restored or relief is established after a natural disaster.

Another preparation families should do is have a remote location (like an out-of-town relative's home) where family members can gather in the event of a major disaster or evacuation. In case of smaller (i.e. not widespread) emergencies like a house fire, families should also have another local gathering place, like a neighbor's house.

In making emergency response plans, people should also know what to do with their animals. During a natural disaster, the county animal shelter will not temporarily board them.

Emergency preparations also means paperwork - as in copies of important documents like medical prescriptions, insurance policies, legal records, etc. - that should go in the hurricane box.

The American Red Cross has had more than 125 years of experience with emergencies. Their Web site, www.redcross.org, has a wealth of emergency preparation information.

Hurricane season is upon us. Let's be prepared in case we become unwilling participants in it.