The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting another active hurricane season in the United States, according to its just-released annual forecast.

NOAA anticipates the 2011 hurricane season for the Atlantic basin will have 12 to 18 named storms, six to eight hurricanes and three to six major hurricanes.

NOAA considers June 1 to Nov. 30 as hurricane season. It categorizes storms as winds of 39 mph or higher, hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or higher, and major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5) with winds of 111 mph or higher.

"The United States was fortunate last year," said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. "Winds steered most of the season's tropical storms and all hurricanes away from our coastlines. However, we can't count on luck to get us through this season. We need to be prepared, especially with this above-normal outlook."

New Jersey on alert

New Jersey disaster expert Dean Ragone said: "We dodged a hurricane season last year because of good fortune, but this should prompt us to prepare for what appears to be a more threatening than usual hurricane season this year."

Mr Ragone, also president of Somerdale, N.J.-based all Risk Property Damage Experts, has urged New Jersey residents to avail themselves of a variety of state emergency programs and plans that can help them cope with the troublesome weatherthat can be even be deadly.

"We are constantly called out during storms or hurricanes, and when we arrive to 'save the day,' it's always apparent to us that had the business or homeowners taken some basic precautions, the damage could have been minimized," said Mr Ragone. "During this lull is when everyone should create and adhere to a disaster plan for their home. Owners and managers of business also need a disaster plan to keep their operation open.

This hurricane season could be the most active since 1995, according to Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.