Whether you've lived in Florida for five months, five years or five decades, the last two hurricane seasons have taught us some lessons.
It all boils down to one thing -- being prepared.
Theresa Johnston, of About.com's Orlando guide, shared with News 13 her top tips for weathering tropical trouble.
Trim Back Limbs Early
Johnston said limbs around screen enclosures and the house should be cut down early.
"If the high winds come through, there's a good chance, that's going to fall through the screen,” Johnston said. “It's going to be at least a year before somebody can come out and fix it."
Johnston also said homeowners should drop the water level of their pools when storm warnings go up. This way, when the power goes out, they won't face a rising flood.
Get Ice Ready
"What I did after the first storm, I started bagging up my own ice, just like freezer baggies of any size," Johnston said.
Johnston said blocks of ice last longer than bags from the store.
"You don't expect the grocery stores to be closed like they were,” Johnston said.
One thing that won't spoil is trash bags. They can be used to gather debris or even patch a broken window.
Prepare Your Garage
Johnston said people should learn how to raise the garage door without electricity.
"People thought because the power was out, they couldn't get their car out of the garage,” Johnston said. “You know, it's just a simple thing of disconnecting it and lifting it."
Get A Hard-Wired Phone
Johnston also suggested that homeowners should revert back to a hard-wired phone.
"I thought the most valuable to me was the fact I had a phone that did not require electricity," Johnston said.
During hurricane season, News 13's team of meteorologists will have tropical updates at 21 minutes and 51 minutes past every hour.