Hurricane season begins June 1. Taking steps now to prepare your family, home and business can make a big difference:

• Create an emergency communication plan with your family. This plan spells out how everyone will contact each other, where to go and how to get back together.
• Build an emergency kit. Keep it ready at home, at work and in the car.
• Check your insurance coverage. Damage caused by flooding is usually not covered by homeowners insurance policies. Buy flood insurance. To learn more about protecting your home, visit FloodSmart.gov.
• Know your community’s evacuation plan, evacuation routes and how to receive alerts.
• Stay informed about current conditions. Listen to local officials and evacuation orders.
• Download an emergency weather app on your phone. Have backup power for your phone. Purchase a weather radio.
• Keep all important documents in a waterproof container to take with you if you evacuate.
• Ready.gov/hurricane and ReadyNC.org provide helpful information on how to plan.

Unfinished storm repairs could make your home vulnerable to future storm damage.