GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The start of the hurricane season is just a month away on June 1.

That gives Upstate residents and emergency managers little time to complete their preparations for the potential effects a tropical system could bring.

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Hurricane season runs through Nov. 30 each year.

The potential for coastal devastation is well known, but hurricanes can cause significant damage inland as well.

The greatest risk is from hurricanes and tropical storms that come ashore on the Gulf of Mexico and then move north.

Those systems have so much moisture that even though the winds have weakened by the time they get to the Upstate, they can still produce large amounts of rain.

In September 2004, the remnants of Hurricane Frances dumped anywhere from 5 inches to a foot of rain on the Upstate.

The rainfall caused widespread flooding of creeks and streams, washed out numerous roads and damaged homes.

The total damage was about $7.5 million, including homes and crops.

"Tropical storms carry a lot of rain with them and if they get over an area and stop or slow down they can build up a lot of significant rain in a short period of time," Greenville County Emergency Management director Scot Wendelken told WYFF News 4's Jennifer Valdez. "That's what we run into and get a lot of damage."

Even though the region is still in an extended drought, 10 inches of rain from the remnants of a hurricane could be devastating to the Upstate.

"That would mean pretty much every stream would flood over its banks and a lot of bridges would go out," National Weather Service meteorologist Andrew Kimball said. "Any homes in low-lying areas and near streams would flood.

High winds are less of a concern for the Upstate, but they also can cause damage.

Winds of 35 mph to 40 mph aren't strong enough to cause damage on their own, but can knock down trees and power lines.

Greenville County's emergency management is spending time before the hurricane season lining up resources that would be needed if a tropical system rolls over the area.

And emergency officials say that preparation should begin in residents' homes.

First, have a plan, they say.

Next, make sure you have an emergency kit, stocked with water, canned food, a can opener, flashlights and batteries.