Officials in Puerto Rico stockpile radios. They set aside food and water. They teach others exactly what to do in an emergency.

Is an emergency coming? Maybe.

Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June to November. People in Puerto Rico are preparing. They’re also remembering Hurricane Maria. The terrible storm ravaged Puerto Rico in September, 2017. Homes were swept away in landslides and floods. Winds roared at 154 miles per hour. The storm knocked out cell phone service and power. And it wasn’t your typical power outage. Most power lines were destroyed. That’s no easy fix! Even now, thousands of people flick on their light switches—and nothing happens. They have had no electricity for almost a year! Puerto Ricans still aren’t done cleaning up Maria’s mess. No wonder they want to be extra-prepared for storms this year!

Last year, officials set aside around 200,000 gallons of water to be used for disaster. This year, they reserve more than 2 million. They store more food this year too—seven times more. They warn people living on the island: “Three days of survival supplies is not enough. You need enough to survive on your own for 10 days at least.”

Many people are unhappy with how officials handled last year’s hurricane recovery. After the storm quieted, thousands spent weeks looking for food, water, and other basic supplies. Government reports said 64 people died because of the storm. But some researchers say the real number could be in the thousands because of interrupted medical care in the months following the storm. People wonder: Could medical help have arrived faster? If it had, how many more lives could have been saved?

Hurricane Maria taught officials a hard lesson. So this year they plan big. They prepare for a total catastrophe—one they hope will not come.

Can you think of a wise official in the Bible who took care of people during a natural disaster? Read Joseph’s plan to save Egypt from famine in Genesis 41.