Although it's a little late to begin preparing for hurricane season, it is my time to prepare.

I have a usual routine each year, normally on June 1, and it goes like this.

I check my generator to make sure everything is working properly, then fill my portable gasoline containers and store them in the garage.

At the end of hurricane season, I fill my automobile tank with them.

I have nine 5-gallon water jugs with lids that I clean thoroughly, (using bleach) rinse completely, and fill with water.

At the end of hurricane season and when dry season is upon us, I empty those jugs into the pool when the water level goes down.

Radio

Next it's time to dig out the battery-operated radio, candles, matches, flashlights and batteries.

Always make sure you have fresh batteries on hand. Store these items in a special place that is easy to get to in case the electricity is out and it is dark outside.

Then a trip to the grocery store is in order to purchase five 1-gallon jugs of fresh drinking water, which I use later in my coffee pot if we have a quiet hurricane season.

Also included in that purchase is food that doesn't need refrigeration and can be warmed easily, or doesn't need any preparation at all, plus new batteries to replace any well-used ones.

At the end of hurricane season, I donate these items to the Salvation Army or the post office's food drive.

Last-minute rush

I do this every season just to make sure I am ready and not caught up in the last-minute rush if an "event" has been predicted.

If an "event" is even suggested to be headed our way, I head to the bank to get some on-hand cash, which is necessary when banks have no electricity and I cannot cash a check or use a credit card or the ATM.

My next stop is the gas station. Even if that storm is a few days away, I want to make sure I am prepared and ready in case it heads our way.

Button up

If a storm is inevitable, my next chore is outside work, gathering anything at all that might become a flying object, then "button up" all my storm shutters, move the orchids and staghorn ferns into the garage and call all the kids to make sure everyone is ready, and let them know that their bedrooms are still available if they want to come home during the storm.

I love it when we're all together!

Hopefully everyone has prepared in advance for any event that might be coming our way.

If you haven't, take the time to prepare now. Everything you do now can be recycled or used later if they are not needed this summer, but it is so important to be ready for anything that might come our way.

Now that I'm ready, I'll settle back, relax, and enjoy a pleasant summer. I hope you do the same.