MOBILE, Ala. — We all know the drill by now. May is winding down, and with the first day of June comes the official start of the 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season (which ends Nov. 30). Federal, state and local emergency management personnel, government meteorologists and public officials gathered in Mobile Wednesday through Friday to make sure they are all on the same page when it comes to protecting lives along the Gulf Coast. But, they also expect us to be prepared in advance of a storm.

“We’re going through all the natural scenarios that might happen during a hurricane,” said Alabama Gov. Bob Riley. “I think we’re better prepared today than we’ve ever been.”

He said the highway department can now contra-flow, or reverse-lane, Interstate 65 south at night as well as they can during the day, something that apparently wasn’t possible when Hurricane Ivan struck in 2004. State officials are also practicing other response methods typically used during an emergency, including setting up staging areas for relief supplies.

“I don’t know if we’ve answered all of the questions,” Riley said. “I don’t know if we ever will. We must keep practicing. We must coordinate with the (Florida) panhandle and Mississippi. Every decision they make affects us. Every decision we make affects them.”

Mike Womack, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency director, agreed, adding, “There is no storm that impacts Alabama that will not impact Mississippi.”

National Hurricane Center Director Bill Read said, “There’s different issues different states face. You need longer and longer lead time, but we’re still working with that 100-mile zone of uncertainty.”

Cost is not an issue, however, even under a state budget crunch. Riley said, “That’s (something) we’ve been talking about all morning. We’ll never sacrifice preparedness for money. We’ll pre-deploy assets. Whether the federal government pays 75 percent or 100 percent, it’s going to have an impact at the state level.”

The governor noted that if the state National Guard is activated for security or distribution detail, that alone carries a price tag of nearly $9 million. He said, “The worst mistake we can make is not to deploy.”

Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Brock Long said it’s up to each family to plan now for what they will do if a tropical system threatens the coast. A public awareness campaign now under way proclaims “The first 72 are on you,” meaning you must not expect outside help following a hurricane for the first three days after the storm is no longer a threat.

“We ask ourselves how can we help our citizens prepare for self-sufficiency?” he said. Addressing all Alabamians, he added, “You must discover what your vulnerabilities are.”

One potential weakness regarding preparation is utmost on the minds of officials. Many fear the high cost of gasoline will prompt some residents to ignore evacuation orders and stay home, even if they live in dangerous, flood-prone areas.

“(The lack of) disposable income to buy it is going to be a critical part of the decision-making process we didn’t have a few years ago,” Riley said. “If you look back at what happened a few years ago in Mississippi, you see the devastation and know what could happen here.”

Baldwin County Emergency Management Director Leigh Anne Ryals said, “If they’re in a situation where economics is a factor, we’ll have a shelter to go to.” She pointed out that shelters here do not accept pets, but some area veterinarians and kennels do.

County shelters now have cots and blankets available, and some have cafeterias and showers, but all have a limited capacity, even the newest at the Baldwin County Coliseum in Robertsdale. Riley said, “There’s improved quality of life — not always having to sit on a hard floor … We’re hoping that will cause people who otherwise wouldn’t leave (home) to do so.”

But, Ryals cautioned, “Don’t wait until the last minute. If they have the same idea everyone else does, than that shelter will be full and we’ll have to redirect them to another shelter.”

She said it’s important to have an emergency kit filled with food, water and other supplies already prepared for staying put or evacuating. It’s also critical you let your friends and family know your plans before a storm moves ashore and severs communications.

Riley said there are currently adequate evacuation routes for coastal residents to use, if all act responsibly and promptly.

“You’re sitting on the beach and see the storm is three days away,” he said. “You know the storm is going to hit on Saturday and think you can leave on Friday afternoon. Well, you can’t.”

Riley said traffic is a huge issue when folks delay fleeing the coast when a hurricane is approaching and an evacuation is called. Traffic jams are not uncommon when evacuees return at the same time, he added.

“Each storm helps prepare you better for the next time,” Ryals said. “Each affects is differently. We are all able to go back and look at our plans and make improvements.”

Asked about seasonal forecasts issued by NOAA and Colorado State University, she added, “I tend not to focus on hurricane forecasts, but in my experience, if we have one storm, it’s been a bad year. My job is to prepare us, no matter what the forecast says.”

Read concurred, saying, “The hurricane seasonal forecast cannot tell you anything about whether you’re going to get hit.”

He said NHC has made vast technological improvements in forecasting the track of incoming tropical systems, and has beefed up the way the information is passed along to the general public. As always though, hurricanes sometimes seem to have a mind of their own.