Why not prepare now for ’canes?

In case you forgot to flip your calendar, let me be the first to remind you that it’s June — in South Florida. The start of hurricane season.

This is the time of year when lawmakers give us a sales tax exemption to stock up on items such as battery-powered radios and flashlights, but most of us are still oblivious to the fact that we’re one bad storm away from flooded houses and days without power until the storm has a name and a label of being “life-threatening” from the governor.

It doesn’t have to be this way. For starters, that sales tax holiday is today through Sunday. (Bonus if you take advantage this year and avoid paying that extra penny in sales tax.)

And in Palm Beach Gardens, there’s a good informative event to prep you for the upcoming season.

A family-friendly “Weather the Storm” presentation from 6-8 p.m. Thursday will be held at the Veterans Plaza Amphitheater at City Hall, 10500 N. Military Trail. The Sarah Peters city’s staff and nonprofit organizations will help people prepare for the storm season at the free event with demonstrations, exhibits and, yes, freebies.

Emergency personnel will give a “multifaceted” presentation at 6:30, repeating at 7:30 p.m., according to the city.

It might be worth checking out, considering the noshow of El Nino has led the Climate Prediction Center, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to predict a hurricane season that’s busier than normal.

That’s not necessarily cause for alarm. The 2016 season ended as the busiest since 2012 with 15 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher, but none of them made landfall in Palm Beach County. The Climate Prediction Center is forecasting 11 to 17 named storms this season, though, which is reason for caution.

The Post’s weather reporter, Kim Miller, has you covered with a video of helpful tips for a hurricane kit, and business reporter Charles Elmore has a guide to help you navigate home- owners insurance without getting completely ripped off.

And just a reminder — it doesn’t take a named storm to do major damage.

Just a few months ago, a tornado blew out windows, ripped off roof tiles and severely damaged two north county high schools and a Palm Beach Gardens community’s clubhouse.

Homes in the Isle Verde subdivision of the Mirabella at Mirasol community took a significant beating.

While you’re watching or reading, I’ll be going through my tub of supplies, tossing out foods that are past their expiration date and clearing the grocery store shelves of the most tasty non-perishables. Maybe when I’m finished, I’ll make sure I can still get my hurricane shutters closed and locked.

You can choose to prepare now — or just hope for the best.