The time to prepare for a hurricane is before the season begins, when you have the time and are not under pressure.

Comprehensive preparedness requires the whole community to participate in hurricane preparedness. That said, many people, especially senior citizens, rely on the assistance of neighbors before and after hurricanes.

If you plan to ride out the storm in your home, make sure it is in good repair and up to local hurricane building code specifications.

Call your insurance company or agent and ask for an insurance checkup to make sure you have enough homeowners insurance to repair or even replace your home.

You’re going to need supplies not just to get through the storm but for the potentially lengthy and unpleasant aftermath. Have enough non-perishable food, water and medicine to last each person in your family a minimum of one week.

One of the greatest potentials for loss of life related to a hurricane is from the storm surge. Storm surge is simply water that is pushed toward the shore by the force of winds swirling around the storm.

Wherever you are this summer—at home, a summer job or on campus—make sure you and your family/roommates can receive, understand and act on information received in an emergency.

Did you know that hurricanes or any tropical system can have FIVE major impacts? These include storm surge, flooding, strong wind, tornadoes and rip currents.

The week of May 1-7 is Hurricane Preparedness Week. Hurricanes are not just a coastal problem. Their impacts can be felt hundreds of miles inland, and significant impacts can occur without it being a major hurricane.

An emergency food supply doesn’t have to sit on a shelf, ready for disaster to strike (although it can). It can be part of the food you use every day. The key to a good food storage plan is to buy ahead of time.