Warm and sunny Miami is a dream destination with its 300 annual days of gorgeous sunshine, gleaming blue skies, and pristine air quality; but that awesomely clean air is largely due to the fact that Miami sits in the path of tropical storms that sweep across the Atlantic regularly, cleaning the air on their way, and these may include potentially dangerous hurricanes.

Since the payoff is living in paradise, Floridians learn to weather tropical storms and survive with little to no damage to their person or property. The trick is to be prepared all year round for the possibility of a big storm, so that when a hurricane does show up, it won’t take you by surprise, and you won’t find yourself rushing around at the last minute to ensure that necessary precautions are in place.

• Plan ahead for an evacuation: choose a place to go in case you need to leave and prepare a hurricane survival kit.
• Devise a family reunification plan, choose a safe meeting place to gather after the storm, and make sure every family member has a copy of the plan.
• Designate a Safe Room in your home where you can weather the storm if you decide to stay home. This room should be away from windows and glass doors if possible.
• Make sure you’re properly insured: Maintain a comprehensive Homeowner’s Insurance policy with proper hurricane coverage as well as additional coverage for dwelling contents.
• Keep receipts and photographs of personal belongings in case you ever need them to support an insurance claim.
• Keep a Local Hurricane Guide handy. Some sample guides include the Miami-Dade County Hurricane Readiness Guide and the Local 10 News Hurricane Survival Guide, as well as the Miami Beach Hurricane Guide.
• Set up and secure special assistance for any Disabled or Elderly members of your household by informing your condo association of any special needs and making sure all emergency contact info is updated and accessible.
• Update key contact information such as emergency assistance services, family members, employers or clients, and condo association board members.
• Secure and repair hurricane shutters, doors leading to balconies and porches, and garage doors ahead of hurricane season. Install hurricane impact windows and storm shutters if you don’t already have them.
• Keep trees pruned and trimmed and don’t allow yard debris to accumulate on your property.
• Stay Informed with regards to potential Property Damage and Housing Assistance with FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program, a service that provides assistance to individuals and families when their property is damaged or destroyed in a hurricane.

As the age-old saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry, and this is by far the smartest approach to preparing yourself for the threat of a potential hurricane or dangerous storm. By staying alert year-round and taking basic preliminary precautions well in advance, you will be better braced to deal with an emergency situation if one should arise.

And in the words of Ollie the weatherman...