Be sure to plan for your four-legged family members, too.

Hurricane planning is about more than you, your family and home. It's critical to decide as soon as possible what to do with your "four-legged kids" in the event of a hurricane.

The choices are pretty clear-cut: keeping your pets with you at home, taking them along if you evacuate, leaving them with a friend or boarding them. Contact your veterinarian or humane society (http://www.floridahumanesociety.org/) for detailed information on how to prepare your pets for a hurricane.

Meanwhile, here are some basics to know and follow:

If you're staying at home, make your pet as comfortable as possible by giving it a safe, familiar place to stay and a familiar towel or blanket. Be sure to have a pet disaster kit on hand including at least a week's worth of food, water, bowls, a manual can opener, medication with instructions, toys and either litter boxes and litter, or newspapers and plastic bags for cleanup.
 
Due to safety and public health concerns, public shelters don't allow pets except for service animals. It's imperative that you plan far enough in advance for these important family members so that you do not get in a pet-related emergency situation.

If you must leave them alone, make absolutely sure they have adequate supplies of food and water. And never leave pets at home on a tether. (Please see our checklist section for your pet's own special checklist.)

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