Hurricane experts tour Galveston in preparation for upcoming season

GALVESTON, TX (KTRK) -- Hurricane experts toured Galveston on Tuesday, learning and preparing for the upcoming hurricane season.

The Hurricane Hunter aircraft, operated by the Air Force, flies in-and-out of a hurricane, letting scientists know exactly how strong a storm may be.

"My message to everyone is going to be that there is a huge difference to how busy the season is overall and how bad it might be where you live," said Dr. Richard Knabb, the Director of NOAA's National Hurricane Center. "The cliche works, it only takes one."

NOAA recommends putting together a emergency plan and develop a basic disaster supplies kit to prepare for a possible hurricane.

The supply kit could include the following items:

Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation

Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food

Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both

Flashlight and extra batteries

First aid kit

Whistle to signal for help

Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place

Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation

Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

Manual can opener for food

Local maps

Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

With severe weather possible, make sure you have the abc13 weather app. It recognizes your location and can give you an audio warning when severe weather is threatening.

You'll also get an interactive street-level map, a detailed forecast and much more. It's the best tool in the Houston area to protect you when severe weather threatens.