Here we go again, a week and a half away from the six-month hurricane season that starts June 1, and the weather's been great.</p><p>It's also been steamy, which means the water's been hot, which means the greater potential for storm generation, which means the weather might not be so great in the coming months.</p><p>This is the month we can get the information we need to be prepared for the possibility of a strike - what to do before, during and after a hurricane. It's a lot of stuff we hear year after year and so many of us know the drill - batteries, canned goods, extra ice and water and all that jazz.</p><p>But for those who need a refresher and those new to these islands, it's also the month two Florida Keys educational programs with all the experts take place. This year, they're a week from today, May 28, in the central location of Marathon. First up is for our essential tourism industry, 1 to 5 p.m. at the Marathon Government Center. National Hurricane Center Director Bill Read, in his first year as the top storm chief, is the keynote speaker for the event, organized by the Lodging Association of the Florida Keys and Key West with the Monroe County Tourist Development Council and Monroe County Emergency Management.</p><p>Cost to attend is $20 to cover expenses, but if you own a business, it might be the best investment you make. To reserve a spot, call 296-4959. Besides Read, presenters include:</p><p>Matt Strahan, meteorologist in charge of the Key West National Weather Service office, who will talk about new Internet-based weather tools available to the public. Carmelita Concepcion, a labor attorney who will discuss employment issues relating to hurricanes.</p><p>Jerry O'Cathey, Monroe County Emergency Management administrator and de factor hurricane professor.</p><p>Andy Newman, Keys marketing guru who gets the word out to the world at large about what's going on when we're threatened or actually struck. </p><p>J.B. Hunt, our former American Red Cross chief in the Keys who has moved back because she couldn't stay away from these islands.</p><p>County Airports Director Peter Horton, talking about, well, hurricanes and airports.</p><p>Then from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the same location, the Keynoter, National Weather Service and Monroe County come together for our fourth annual “Hurricane Eve” program, this year titled “Lessons from Katrina.” </p><p>Some of the guests we share - Read, our keynote speaker; Strahan, an organizer of the program and hurricane expert himself; O'Cathey; and Hunt.</p><p>But we have others, since this free program is geared to the general public rather than just the business community.</p><p>For the second time since 2006, Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Craig Fugate is flying the 600 miles down from Tallahassee because he feels so strongly about the Keys' vulnerability.</p><p>Paul Trotter, Strahan's National Weather Service counterpart in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, who witnessed the Gulf Coast's devastation firsthand and will present a powerful presentation saying “this could be you.”</p><p>Colleen Repetto, Fair Insurance Rates in Monroe board member to tell us where we stand in the Keys following the recently completely Florida Legislature's session.</p><p>Mark Bartlett, general manager of the Keys Fisheries restaurant and fish house in Marathon, which was up and running only nine days after the storm surge of Wilma in October 2005 (look at that photo; that was the ordering counter at the height of it).</p><p>Nikki Will, Lower Keys Medical Center CEO, because it all begins and ends with the hospitals - no hospital open, no utility workers out fixing your water lines, electric lines, telephone lines, cable lines.</p><p>The format of the program, televised live on Comcast Channel 76, is presentations and moderated panels, which makes for some great information coming out as the participants trade information.</p><p>These two sessions next week are great ways to get informed. Please take advantage of them.