Abbott advises Texas locals to prepare 'essentials your family will need' ahead of hurricane season

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott urges Texan residents to prepare for potential evacuation and shelter warnings amid this year’s hurricane season, which was welcomed with the declaration of Hurricane Ana by the National Hurricane Center.

"Be prepared. Build a kit with essentials your family will need if you have to evacuate or shelter in place,”Abbott said.

The storm marks an early start for the season for the seventh consecutive year, before the season’s official commencement on June 1. An indication that it could be an active one, the season will run through Nov. 30, showing signs of excessive heat content, unable to support the formation of strong storms.

Though Ana has now gravitated toward the northeast sea of Bermuda, the early-developing storm is still being monitored in the event any negative changes occur. Experts have predicted between 13 to 20 storms this hurricane season, of which six and 10 will become hurricanes. Low pressure was detected by the agency on May 22, 200 miles northeast of Bermuda.

The National Hurricane Center recently issued regular Atlantic tropical weather reports in Mid-may, according to weather.com. Last season saw a record-breaking 30 storms and 14 hurricanes, serving as the worst hurricane season since 2005, according to USA Today.