While weather threats tend to change with the seasons, certain years come with bigger troubles than others.
And while those living in the northeast can expect a couple of heavy but otherwise normal snowfalls each winter, those living up and down the eastern seafood have to handle the unexpected nature of hurricane season.
While easier to track ahead of time than thunderstorms and tornadoes, hurricanes can nevertheless change course unexpectedly.
And while those who are going to bear the full brunt of the storm should certainly consider evacuating--and must if it's mandatory--others simply need to take into account what safety and home security measures are necessary to handle the other impact that a hurricane or tropical depression can have.
The biggest worries might not necessarily be withstanding the winds of the storm itself, but rather, making sure that it's possible to have the right supplies back at home.
Families who live in states where hurricanes are commonplace, like Florida, are accustomed to stocking up on supplies that might run low in grocery stores and hardware stores during the height of hurricane season.
This means keeping batteries, flashlights, candles, and fresh water around the house.
With food supplies, it's crucial to remember a can opener, as sometimes non-perishables in canned form are the focus, rather than the method for getting the food out.
Emergency supplies should also include any prescription medicine for family members who require particular pills or injections on a regular basis.
After all, a particularly heavy storm might make transportation and communication impossible.
And that could be more deadly than serious winds.
For those concerned about home security and personal safety during the storm more literally, there are plenty of simple preparations to make.
Bringing in all outside furniture or potentially hazardous objects like trash cans is a great way to avoid broken windows and other troubles.
For those homes with pools, making sure that the water level is low before the rain comes might mean the difference between manageable flooding and something worse.
And being sure to move automobiles away from power lines or trees that might lose branches is a great step towards making sure that leaving after the weather calms down doesn't have its own world of problems.
While some homeowners are more concerned about their home security than personal safety, it's never a good idea to ignore a mandatory evacuation.
In addition to being designed to keep people from getting injured or worse, it makes sense to obey that law.
In many states, because of resistant residents who refused to leave, disobeying a mandatory evacuation can result in legal troubles.
So to keep yourself and your family safe, be sure to actually leave if there is no question about the path of a hurricane.
Be sure to bring valuables that aren't replaceable, as well as important legal documents, but don't get carried away and try to pack up the entire house in 15 minutes.
This sort of approach can lead to not making it out in enough time to get out of the storm's path, and replaceable objects aren't nearly as important as staying safe.