Are you prepared for hurricane season? Did you know that 87 million people live in coastline counties? That is 29% of the U.S. population, not to mention the effects everyone will feel who live further inland. Make sure to be prepared when it comes to these natural disasters.

The first, and most important thing to do is discuss with your family your evacuation plan. Develop some kind of strategy where each person has a responsibility when it comes to evacuating your property. Communication is key between family members. If you can’t evacuate in time, be sure to find a place with secure, strong walls on the lowest level of your property. If you happen to have a storm cellar that can be easily accessible, that is the best place to go. Also, be aware of your community’s evacuation routes so that you have the best chance of escaping the storm. If you find yourself in a high-rise building, be sure to find a safe place either on or below the 10th floor.

The next best thing to do is be sure you have a hurricane survival kit with all of the necessities. Be sure to have this prepared before anything comes your way. Storms can hit very quickly and the more prepared you are in advance, the better.  Food, water, flashlights, and bathing/toiletry needs, are just some examples of the necessities you will need in your kit. It is recommended that you should have at least one gallon of water per person, for drinking and bathing. The best thing to do is go to your local store and purchase commercially bottled water and store it away in a place that is easily accessible.

If you are feeling the effects from a hurricane with incidents like power outage or no running water, then it may be a good investment to get your house hooked up to a generator. With a generator you will be able to have running water and electricity. There are different levels of wattage for generators that you can choose from. Some that will power your whole house and then others you can choose from with a lower wattage that will only power a portion of your house. There’s no telling how long you may be without electricity or running water, a generator is worth the investment when it comes to those who have the greatest risk of getting hit by these storms.