Mother Nature never stops, despite our weariness.

With floods on the mind, Thursday’s news that hurricane season is right around the corner was as welcome as the stomach virus.

Even worse, the experts think this season may be a bad one.

With as many as 18 named tropical storms predicted, and five to six major hurricanes expected to make landfall in the U.S., the predicted pain seems unceasing.

But, just like the Mississippi River flood, hurricanes come with a notable period of warning.

With an entire season set aside for these ocean storms — June 1 to Nov. 30 — there’s no reason to wonder when to prepare.

Get ready now. If Mother Nature’s wrath through tornadoes and floods this year hasn’t taught us a lesson, we likely aren’t capable of learning.

Prepare a hurricane kit — bottled water and food for three to seven days, blankets, pillows, clothing, first-aid supplies and medications, toiletries, flashlights and batteries, a radio, an extra, charged cell phone battery, cash and tools.

Make sure everyone in your house knows where the emergency items are. Talk about what you would do in the case of an emergency.

Remember that preparation is the best tonic for panic.

When you and your family know you are well prepared, you can enjoy the summer, simply remembering to keep an eye to the news for extra warnings.

It doesn’t seem fair that our area may soon have to worry about another major weather disaster, but we know life is not fair.

Be ready now so you don’t have to worry later.