Donald Constantine of the Army Corps of Engineers is the canal captain at this pumping station in New Orleans. Since Hurricane Katrina three stations have been completely remodeled with custom steel gates that can withstand a Category 5 hurricane. (Imani M. Cheers/NYT Institute)

While the nation focuses on the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, weather experts warn there’s a greater threat headed for the Gulf — a hurricane season that’s expected to be more active than normal.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting the most active season on record, with eight to 14 hurricanes, according to lead forecaster Gerry Bell. Three to seven of them are expected to be Category 3 or higher.

Some 14 to 23 tropical storms are projected.

Bell said area residents must not overlook the start of hurricane season Tuesday amid the angst of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. He urged residents to get prepared now.

“The impacts of hurricanes are far worse than the effect of oil on people,” said Bell. “When a hurricane comes on shore, a lot of things can happen.”

Bell said it’s unclear if hurricanes would push the free-flowing oil from the Gulf further inland. Nor could he estimate the kind of impact it might have.

The wind, temperature and warmth of the Atlantic waters are conducive to creating conditions where hurricanes can begin, gain momentum and pick up strength, said Bell. These factors combined raise the chance of frequent hurricanes and storms, he said.
Of preparation efforts, Bell said, “Now is the time. Find out if you are in an evacuation zone, and, if so, you should evacuate if called to do so.”

Bell advised making a plan and stocking up on survival supplies to last one to two weeks.

Hurricane season runs six months, through Nov. 30.

The 2009 season was the mildest since 1997, with nine named storms, including three hurricanes — two of them major — according to NOAA.

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