At the first announcement of an impending hurricane, supplies and tools begin to quickly disappear from store shelves. For this and other reasons, it's always smart to plan early. That involves making decisions now about your home and family, so that if an emergency arises, you'll be ready to act on a moment's notice.

It only takes a few minutes to survey four of the most important aspects of your home and family. Once you do, you'll feel better knowing you're ready for anything.

Family Survey

Where will you go during a hurricane? If you evacuate, when will you evacuate? Make a decision beforehand that once the storm reaches [fill in the blank], you will leave your home. This alleviates arguments and questioning about this topic later on when you have other things on your mind.

Predetermine where you will stay and which evacuation route you'll take. Local hotels and shelters fill up quickly, so if your plan is to remain relatively nearby, you may want to make arrangements to stay with friends. Make a "grab and go" bag for each family member that contains a change or two of clothing, extra shoes, toothbrush and toothpaste, and any medication that must be taken regularly.

If you plan to ride out the storm at home, make sure you have the essentials available. Create a hurricane kit that includes cash, canned goods, manual can opener, blankets, bottled water, batteries, battery-powered radio and/or TV, gasoline, medicine, flashlights, coolers, corded phone and fully charged cell phone. Also, fill all your vehicles with gas at the first sign of a storm. The longer you wait, the more likely stations will run out of fuel.

For those who live in hurricane-prone areas, you might even consider purchasing a gas-powered generator. The expense could be well worth not having to suffer through life with no power for weeks on end.

Pet Survey

You'll want to have properly sized pet carriers for each pet to stay in. Do not allow them to run loose in the house or outdoors during the storm.

If you're going to evacuate, you'll need to plan well in advance, as all hotels and other lodging facilities don't allow pets. According to the National Hurricane Center's website, "Animals brought to a pet shelter are required to have: proper identification collar and rabies tag, proper identification on all belongings, a carrier or cage, a leash, an ample supply of food, water and food bowls, any necessary medications, specific care instructions and newspapers or trash bags for clean-up."

Interior Survey

Walk through your home in an effort to choose a location as your hurricane shelter. Choose an interior room or closet on the lowest floor in the center of your house. If possible, the room or closet should have no windows. Keep your hurricane kit in your shelter.

Exterior Survey

Likewise, walk around the exterior of your home. Keep an eye out for broken or dead limbs or branches as well as trees that are too close to power lines, windows or other structures. These could easily cause damage even with mild winds. You'll also want to pay close attention to the trunk of your trees. Call a certified arborist to inspect any tree that develops holes, voids or other such damage, especially around the base. Your best bet is to contact a local tree removal company who employs certified arborists to prune or remove these potential hazards.

You'll also want to secure items that could be turned into projectiles during a storm, including grills, chairs, hoses, flowerpots and other items that are not anchored down.

Most importantly, purchase plywood to board up your windows. Once a window is broken, wind damage, water damage and structural damage are almost certain. Wind enters the broken window with such upward and outward force it puts a strain on the roof and walls.

Planning takes only a little effort and time, but can pay off in ways you can't even imagine. Before we get too far into hurricane season this year, stop and survey your family and home, so you can ensure their safety.