By MOLLY DRYMAN

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE — During this mid-point of hurricane season it becomes a frequent question to think how much more of this stuff will come this way. According to the experts in tropical weather, there’s plenty.

Hurricane season got off to a quick start this year with nine tropical storms and two hurricanes already. Hurricane Dennis made landfall this year in the U.S. on July 10 and Hurricane Emily threatened the Yucatan shortly after.

“The average season consists of 10 named storms, six becoming hurricanes and two becoming major hurricanes,” said Warning Coordination Meteorologist Frank Revitte of the National Weather Service in New Orleans. “This year will be more active. We are expecting 18 to 21 storms, nine to 11 becoming hurricanes and five to seven becoming major hurricanes.”

Revitte said hurricanes are caused primarily from warm ocean water temperatures, with the Atlantic temperatures being warmer than normal, and wind conditions.

This hurricane season may be one of the most active on record. Residents and government agencies are asked to embrace hurricane preparedness efforts and to be ready “well before a tropical storm or hurricane watch is posted,” according to Director of the NOAA National Hurricane Center Max Mayfield.

Hurricane preparedness and evacuation maps are available at local Wal-Mart and Home Depot Stores. They can also be downloaded from the National Red Cross website.