“The first 72 are on you.”

That phrase, which means that you should be prepared for the first 72 hours following a disaster, is one of the key things to keep in mind as hurricane season becomes more active, said Crenshaw County EMA director Jessica Tomlin-Seabrooks.

“In any disaster, the state doesn’t guarantee a response in less than 72 hours,” she said. “People need to be prepared for themselves and their family.”

Hurricane season began on June 1, and so far there have only been two named storms: Hurricane Alex, which made landfall in Mexico in late June, and tropical storm Bonnie, which recently dissipated in the Gulf of Mexico.

In a report issued shortly before the season began, the National Oceanographic and Aeronautics Administration predicted a highly active hurricane season.

NOAA estimates a 70 percent probability for the following activity: 14-23 named storms, 8-14 hurricanes and 3-7 major hurricanes.

“One of the things we recommend is the ‘Get 10’ list,” Seabrooks said.

The Get 10 list is published by the Alabama Department of Public Health, and includes the following 10 suggested items to help a family deal with an emergency: water, food, can opener, medications, first aid, flashlight, radio, clothes, personal care items and important documents.

For more information about hurricane preparedness, visit www.adph.org/get10.