The 2006 hurricane season has gotten off to an early start with tropical storm Alberto predicted to become a hurricane by the time it reaches the Florida coast.

Hitting less than two weeks after the start of the hurricane season, and the first named storm of 2006, Alberto is not expected to incur severe losses to the state, but Insurance Information Institute senior vice president and chief economist Robert Hartwig said it may be the last warning for residents of the sunshine state to prepare for the storms that follow.

“It is an early start to what is expected to be a long and severe hurricane season,” he said, noting that such a start is “the only way you can fit 17 storms into a season” as predicted for 2006.

Of the 17 named storms expected of the 2006 hurricane season, Mr. Hartwig said, nine are predicted to become hurricanes and five are expected to be severe hurricanes–meaning an intensity of Category 3 or higher.

“This could be one last warning that they need to prepare,” he said of Florida residents. Such preparations, Mr. Hartwig explained, should include making sure they have “the right insurance in the right amounts,” including flood coverage, but also the more basic preparations such as plans to ensure the entire family is safe.

“They need a plan to survive a hurricane both financially and physically,” he said.

Current projections have Alberto hitting a relatively sparsely populated area of the state at a low intensity level. Mr. Hartwig said the hurricane is not expected to incur a severe amount of insured losses, adding that it may in fact “do more good than harm in that the area has been suffering a drought.”

However, he said that any storm should underscore the risk to homeowners and their properties, and that the next storm may be more dangerous.

“This could be the last warning shot that Mother Nature fires over the bow,” he said.

According to the National Weather Service, Alberto is expected to hit landfall some time Tuesday morning. A 2:00 p.m. weather advisory Monday said Alberto had sustained winds of 70 mph, bringing it close to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, which is sustained winds between 74- and 95 mph.

The Weather Service said Alberto has the potential to reach hurricane force winds prior to making landfall.