by Sandie Mcgary

Created on: December 19, 2008   Last Updated: April 29, 2012

You inevitably see the same scene year after year when a hurricane is on the way. People by the thousands take to the streets hitting the local hardware stores seeking out plywood, tarps, tape, generators and a multitude of other items to prepare their homes at the very last moment.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from the first of June until November 30th, while the Eastern Hurricane season runs from May 15th to November 30th. With six months in between seasons, there is plenty of time to get your home and family well prepared.

• Roof Inspection

Before Hurricane season begins, inspect your roof. Look for loose or missing shingles and areas that may possibly leak. Check your attic vents and wind turbines to be sure they are secure. If a hurricane watch has been issued for your area, you will want to tape up a trash bag on your turbine. This will keep water from being blown into your attic, thus saving you any possibilities of water damage.

• Windows

Most people tend to tape up their windows during a hurricane, the only advantage to taping your windows is if it does become broken the glass fragments shouldn't stray too far. However, it will not keep a trash can or other large item from blowing through your window. The best thing to do is to fit your windows with either hurricane shutters or plain plywood. When choosing hurricane shutters be sure to do some background information of each one of the companies that you are considering. The better the materials, the better the shutter will protect your home. If you choose to use plywood, make sure the plywood has no serious defects in the wood, such as splitting. This could seriously impede the functionality of the plywood shutter. Secure the plywood into the brick of your house using anchors specially made for brick or concrete.

• Generator

Keeping your generator serviced is key to having it fire up the first time you try to crank it. Before hurricane season begins, drain any old gas from the system. Old gas left in the generator can gum up the fuel line and prevent it from starting up when you need it the most. If possible, take your generator in for service every six months to make sure all rubber lines are not dry rotted and that the spark plug is still good.

• Supplies

When it comes to supplies, it's always best to get them before a hurricane watch has been issued. By that point, you will be hard pressed to find anything you need. Set up a hurricane season preparedness

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