Meteorologists have predicted a busy hurricane season — something the gulf coast has not seen since the days of Katrina — and Escambia County Emergency Management Agency Director David Adams hopes area residents will prepare.

“We must take action and prepare now for the hurricane season,” Adams said. “The time to get ready for a hurricane is now. We need to be prepared for a disaster if we are hit by a storm.”

Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have made predictions that show a busy season. NOAA is projecting a 70 percent probability of the following ranges: 14 to 23 named storms (top winds of 39 mph or higher), including 8 to 14 Hurricanes (top winds of 74 mph or higher), of which 3 to 7 could be Major Hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of at least 111 mph).

NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco said if current predictions hold true the 2010 season could be one for the records.

“If this outlook holds true, this season could be one of the more active on record,” Lubchenco said. “The greater likelihood of storms brings an increased risk of a landfall. In short, we urge everyone to be prepared.”

For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Atmore Advance.