4359187590?profile=originalYesterday marked the beginning of the 2014 Atlantic Hurricane

Right now is the time to make your plans for contending with a storm. Your main objective, of course, is to make sure you and your family are as safe as possible. Your second aim should be to protect your property. Here's how you can prepare.

 

Hurricane preparation and survival tips

 

Make plans early to harbor boat

There are lots of ways to protect your boat from a hurricane. Advice varies greatly, depending on the size of your vessel, availability of dock space, marina rules and local laws. That makes planning now for a hurricane all the more essential.

Safeguard your car

"Comprehensive" auto coverage should protect your car from damage caused by a hurricane, including flood damage.

Hurricane shutter guide: Compare types, calculate costs

Hurricane shutters are the most important protection for your home. Our guide helps you compare the pros and cons of various hurricane shutter types.

Shutters are first line of defense

No matter how well-constructed, a house without shutters or hurricane glass is not a smart place to stay in a storm. Without protection, windows can be smashed by flying debris. And once the wind gets inside the house, it can quickly splinter or tear off the roof.

Make plans now to protect your family

Your hurricane plan should be detailed and cover not just what to do now, but also what to do as the storm threatens and as it hits -- and what you should do afterward, when you could be on your own without help for weeks.

Protect your pets and animals

To keep your pet safe in the event of a hurricane, your choices are to keep the pet with you at home, take it with you if you evacuate, leave it with a friend or board it at a kennel.

Find the safest place in your home

Finding a strong refuge in your home and keeping it stocked with the right supplies can mean the difference between life and death during a hurricane. Here's how to stay safe during a storm.

Go early if you plan to leave

If you are absolutely determined to leave town before the hurricane comes, experts have two pieces of advice: 1. Don't do it. 2. If you still insist on leaving, do it early. Very early.

Go to shelters only if there is no place else

A hurricane shelter should always be considered a last option, a place to go if you can't stay at home or with a relative or friend.

Finding shelter for your family

Where will you go during a storm? It's a decision best made now, when you're calm, long before a storm hits. But in some cases, the choice may not be yours.

Extra precautions focus on students

If a hurricane turns toward South Florida, safety officials say they'll still have plenty of warning to make sure children aren't in school.

Talk to kids, but don't scare them

Long before the season begins, parents should begin explaining to children what hurricanes are, the dangers they pose and the safety measures to take against them.

A safe home is as easy as ABC

Whether you're inland or on the coast, you can do a lot to safeguard your home against harmful hurricane winds.

Is your house strong enough?

If you think you have a poorly designed home, it's critical to have it inspected for hurricane readiness -- before a storm. That way, you can find out what's wrong -- if anything -- and get it fixed.

Doorway to disaster: Garage door is where a storm's danger comes home

We know you'd rather forget the trauma of last year's hurricane season and pray we never have another one like it.

Is your house up to code? Permits help ensure quality work

The statewide Uniform Building Code that went into effect in January 2002 was designed to make our homes safer from hurricane damage.

Preparing condos and apartments

Here are some tips to help you prepare your apartment or condominium.

Taking care of business

Here are some tips to help you prepare your business for a hurricane.

Keep an inventory of possessions

To help speed payment of an insurance claim, videotape or photograph your belongings before a hurricane. Business owners should do the same.

Get important papers in order

Long before a storm threatens, collect your important documents and items.

Preparing your pool for hurricanes

There are several steps you can take to prepare and protect your swimming pool during hurricane season.

Review your insurance policy before a storm

Most homeowners wait until a hurricane is bearing down on them before they start wondering what kinds of damage are covered by their insurance policies.

Floodwaters and vehicles

After the storm, avoid driving through puddled rainwater. Here's why:

Securely anchor your mobile home

If you live in a mobile home, you probably already know the routine when a hurricane is headed your way: Pack up and head to safer quarters before the wind starts howling.

Take steps to protect computers, electronics

For all the advantages one has with personal computers or a high-tech home office setup, there are huge disadvantages to being plugged in during the approach of a serious storm: the loss of data can be devastating. While it's simple enough to log off, shut down and unplug at the first warning signs, you might want to take a few extra steps to preserve information that is vital to a home-based business or the family archives.

Creative food ideas to weather the storm

Getting through the hurricane might be the hard part, but the days and weeks that follow the storm can be nearly as challenging.

Predictions for the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season indicate the likelihood of a slow season, with NOAA projecting a normal-to-below-normal activity this year. Eight to 13 tropical storms are predicted, with three to six of them expected to become hurricanes. As many as two of them could be major hurricanes.

Despite that prediction, no one should be complacent. 1992 was projected to be a slow year, but Hurricane Andrew roared ashore proving it only takes one storm to severely impact our state.

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