Is Babylon Village Prepared For Another Hurricane Season?

Even though many in the area are still dealing with the devastation wrought by Sandy, June marked the beginning of the 2013 hurricane season and the National Hurricane Center is calling for an average to above-average season of tropical cyclones. Experts are advising people to be prepared.

County executives from Nassau and Suffolk joined top officials of the American Red Cross in a press conference at the beginning of the month to tell residents what they've learned since  Sandy and the improvements that have been made since then.

"There have been a series of related events that point to climate change impacting our weather," said Suffolk Executive Steve Bellone. "That appears to be increasing our likelihood of getting hit again."

On Friday, residents got a taste of what is to come when the remnants of a tropical storm blew through causing local flooding and certainly bringing up some bad memories.

We asked residents if they were prepared for the hurricane season.

"No," said Margaret Walsh-Stroehlein who has not recovered from Sandy. "That's a hard question to answer for many in Babylon."

The sentiment was echoed by Alice Hudson who said that it might even be too soon to ask about people if they are ready for this year when they are still recovering from last year.

"Babylon Patch. Really?" Hudson wrote on Facebook. "If you mean are you still displaced from Sandy, yes, I guess I am ready."

Tina Bayer-Hummel said that on the South Shore, storm preparedness is a way of life now.

"In Long Beach we live in a perpetual state of readiness," Bayer-Hummel said.

Are you prepared if another hurricane hits? Do you think officials and utilities are prepared? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.