By JASMIN BONIMY,

Guardian Staff Reporter

jasmin@nasguard.com

Hurricane officials are urging residents to be better prepared this season – just days after the first named storm was formed.

The depression that produced Tropical Storm Alberto formed Saturday - nine days after the official start of the hurricane season - in the Northwest Caribbean, which can produce typically weak storms that follow a similar track this time of year, according to forecasters. It became a named storm when its sustained winds reached 39 m.p.h.

Now, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is warning residents to prepare for this season. "NEMA cannot stress enough the importance of being prepared," said Commander Herbert Bain, Logistics Officer for NEMA. "We want the general public to look at how they may have been negatively impacted during the last hurricane season, along with determining what they are going to do to mitigate against that this season."

Since 2004, the country has suffered from three devastating storms. Hurricanes Jeanne and Frances in 2004 caused severe damage throughout The Bahamas, when they ripped through the Bahama chain, resulting in millions of dollars in infrastructural repairs.

Hurricane Wilma devastated the country's northern most islands last year, creating a financial crisis for families and the government. The storm left residents of Grand Bahama and Abaco without basic utilities for weeks, in some instances, causing millions of dollars from the national budget to be spent on behalf of those victims who lost almost everything. Still, local forecasters insist that fast moving Alberto may be an indication of how active this season will be.

"We should prepare now because from what we see, the season has already began in terms of activity," said Michael Stubbs, Chief Climatological Officer for the Department of Meteorology. "Residents ought to be prepared because we had reminders in the years 2004 and 2005. So we need to be prepared to mitigate against destruction."

Meanwhile, NEMA has recently teamed up with The United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The organisation responded to effects of five hurricanes and one tropical storm in 10 Latin American and Caribbean countries, including The Bahamas last year.

According to a USAID press release, following a devastating disaster and an official disaster declaration, a USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team may be deployed to provide emergency humanitarian assistance.

"The teams commonly provide short-term disaster relief co-ordination and relief commodities such as med- ical supplies, hygiene kits, plastic sheeting, and five gallon water containers," the statement read.

In 2004, the group's humanitarian assistance to the country after Hurricanes Jeanne and Frances totalled more than $400,000, while after Wilma in 2005, their support of emergency relief commodities and helicopter transport totalled $59,000.

Up to press time yesterday, Alberto was near hurricane strength.