Hurricane season officially begins Saturday.

Climate forecasters are predicting a busy 2013 hurricane season, with 13 to 20 named storms. The seasonal average is 12.

The Red Cross advises keeping an emergency "to go" kit with nonperishable food and water, as well as formulating plans in case of evacuations. The organization also reinforces the importance of staying informed of local conditions through news outlets such as News 12 Long Island.

Recent storms have showed how vulnerable the region is and how devastating hurricanes can be, but many Long Islanders say the idea of preparing is overwhelming as they struggle to recover from Sandy and Irene.