Don’t wait until a hurricane watch is issued. It may then already be too late to take certain precautions.

Reduce the potential for property damage. Get through any hurricane season with less stress. Prepare before hurricane season begins.

1. Plan an evacuation route ahead of hurricane season

If you live on the coast or in a mobile home, you may have to evacuate in the event of a major storm. While you’ll no doubt get instructions from the local government, it’s wise to create your evacuation plan well before hurricane season. Know about the nearest shelters, take your pets into account, make sure to take important papers. Make a trial run.

2. Keep non-perishable emergency supplies on hand

When a hurricane warning is issued, people run for the stores. Get ahead of the rush by having the following on hand:

• Extra batteries
• Candles or lamps with fuel
• Matches
• Materials for emergency home repairs such as heavy plastic sheeting and plywood
• Prescription drugs
• A three-day supply of drinking water
• Food that you do not have to refrigerate or cook
• First aid supplies
• A portable NOAA weather radio
• A wrench and other basic tools
• A flashlight

If you need to evacuate, bring these supplies with you. As expirations dates approach for food or batteries, use them and then replenish your emergency stash.

3. Take an inventory of your personal property

Creating a home inventory will help ensure that you have purchased enough insurance to replace your personal possessions. It can also speed the claims process, substantiate losses for income tax purposes. It is also helpful if you need to apply for disaster aid. In the event of evacuation, be sure your home inventory is among the important documents you take with you.

4. Review your insurance policies

A hurricane season insurance checklist can help you understand your coverage. Is it adequate to repair or rebuild your home if necessary? Will it replace your belongings?

Keep in mind that your homeowners insurance covers the cost of temporary repairs for hurricane damage. It should also cover reasonable additional living expenses over and above your normal living expenses if you have to relocate (such as the extra expense of getting to work or to school if your temporary home is in a different community).

Your typical homeowners policy will cover flood damage. You may want to consider purchasing flood insurance. If you live by the coast, you may also need a separate policy for protection against wind and wind-blown water damage.

If you have questions about what your current policy will cover, or what you’ll need to augment, contact your insurance professional.

5. Take steps to protect your home

Hurricane force winds can turn landscaping materials into missiles. They can break windows and doors. Much of the property damage associated with hurricanes occurs after the windstorm. Rain enters structures through broken windows, doors and openings in the roof.

Retrofitting your home to protect against these possibilities is a necessary expense. Do it in stages so it is not so hard on your wallet.

• Replace gravel or rock landscaping materials with shredded bark. It’s lighter and won’t cause as much harm.

• Cut weak branches and trees that could fall on your house. Keep shrubbery trimmed.

• Install storm shutters to protect your windows from breakage. Alternately, fit plywood panels on your windows. They can be nailed to window frames when a storm approaches.

• Make sure exterior doors are hurricane proof and have at least three hinges and a deadbolt lock at least one inch long.

• Sliding glass doors should be made of tempered glass. During a storm cover with shutters or plywood. Sliders are more vulnerable to wind damage than most other doors.

• Replace old garage doors and tracks with a door approved for wind and impact protection. Wind coming into a home through an opening can cause grave problems especially with the roof.

• Seal outside wall openings such as vents, outdoor electrical outlets, garden hose bibs and locations where cables or pipes go through the wall. Use a high quality urethane-based caulk to prevent water penetration.

• If you live in a mobile home make sure you know how to secure it against high winds. And, be sure to review your mobile home insurance policy.

• If you have a boat on a trailer know how to anchor the trailer to the ground or housw. And, review your boat insurance policy.

6. Take steps to protect your business

Hurricanes take a toll on businesses too. Be prepared.