Today officially kicks off every South Floridians favorite six month period, a time when hording water at Publix and buying enough wood at Home Depot to make yourself a boat in case you live in Sweetwater is damn near a local tradition. That’s right its hurricane season and the National Hurricane Center has already wasted no time in scaring the crap out of us by predicting six major hurricanes. And for all those who don't pay attention to Don Noe, a "major" hurricane is one that’s level 3 or higher.

With FEMA and other government programs set up (hopefully) in better position to get aid to those who are ravaged by a storm, its only fair that we here in South Florida learn from last year and not wait till the last second to take precautions. It really isn't that hard, just buy water, get shutters and don't go out during the damn thing and you'll be okay.

We here at The Miamist will be here during this hurricane season with updates, pictures and other stuff to get your mind off how much its gonna suck when FPL drops the ball again. I mean the drama before the storm is half the fun anyway.

And as always remember the early warning signs of an approaching storm.

1. People who own surfboards in Miami actually get to use them.
2. Publix and Winn-Dixie see 300% increase in sales of water and Goya products.
3. ATM machines run out of money, bank tellers run out of sanity.
4. Three-lane traffic is really just a line for gas.
5. The national media actually doing story about Florida that doesn't involve a drug bust.
6. Parking lots of super-markets and lumberyards deemed war-zones.

Good luck South Florida.