NATCHEZ — With scientists predicting 13 to 17 named storms this hurricane season, it’s all the more important to be prepared, a local Red Cross official said Wednesday.

Last Friday marked the beginning of hurricane season, lasting through Nov. 1.

The Red Cross needs volunteers to train to help with possible evacuations, Director of Emergency Services Don Winters said.

“If people want to help with evacuations, they need to volunteer now,” Winters said. “If they get training ahead of time, they can be ready to step in once it happens.”

Gulf Coast evacuees flooded Natchez after Hurricane Katrina hit in the fall of 2005.

The local Red Cross can have eight shelters up and running within an hour, but it takes volunteers, Winters said.

If people know their responsibilities and are trained to handle it ahead of time, things run much more smoothly, he said.

“There is a place for everyone,” Winters said. “If you don’t want to work in the shelters, you can answer telephone or handle paperwork.”

The Red Cross can house 1,200 people in the shelters, most of which are churches. Winters said he would like to add 400 more beds to the shelters’ capacities.

“We handled 2,000 during Katrina,” Winters said. “But that overcrowded our shelters.”

People can also sign up to volunteer to house pets belonging to evacuees who come to Natchez.

Volunteering and training before a storm hits can mean the difference between chaos and order, he said.

“That way, during the process of evacuation, when everyone’s running, you’ve got the information ahead of time and it’s organized,” Winters said.

And it’s important to be prepared for the worst and hope for the best, Winters said. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists expect this year’s hurricane season to be more active than normal, according to the NOAA Web site.

“I’m hoping and praying we’ll never have another Katrina,” Winters said. “However, we would like to be as prepared as we can.”

Individuals should be prepared for the season, too, Winters said. Residents should have disaster kits on hand, including first aid kits, food and water to last three to five days, flashlights, battery-powered radios, spare batteries and important papers.

To volunteer, or for more information, call Winters at 601-442-3656.