Being prepared for hurricane season can help keep your family safe. The 2012 hurricane season officially begins on June 1 and will end on Nov. 30. It is during this time that most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic Basin and pose a threat to the United States.

All four counties in District 32 -- Aransas, Calhoun, San Patricio and Nueces -- are among the 14 Tier One counties along the Texas coast. This means that these counties are most likely to be affected if a hurricane makes landfall.

It is important that our area, as well as all Texans, prepare for hurricanes by staying informed, creating a disaster plan and following necessary steps to keep their families safe.

Some of the steps include the preparation of a family disaster plan. A family disaster plan includes planning for hazards that could affect your family as well as home.

Vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind should be reviewed. You should locate safe rooms or places in your house to store items if a hurricane hazard develops.

It is important that families determine evacuation and escape routes from your home and places to meet in case of an emergency. Also, have an outof state friend as a family contact so that all family members have a place of contact.

Don’t forget to plan for taking care of your pets in case of evacuation.

In addition, families need to create a disaster supply kit. A disaster supply kit includes blankets, pillows, seasonal clothing and special items for infants and the elderly. Please have flashlights, batteries, telephones, radios and sufficient tools in case of an emergency. It is important to have a good first aid kit with medicines and prescription drugs ready and organized.

Living along the coast also means preparing for hurricanes by retrofitting your house. It is important to strengthen the outside of your home so wind and objects do not tear openings in your roof or walls.

Some people may want to find out about flood insurance. The National Flood Insurance is a pre-disaster flood program designed to reduce flood disasters. The National Flood Insurance program can be called at 1-888-CALL-FLOOD, Extension 445.

In addition to getting your family, pets and homes safe and prepared, there are various state Web sites for hurricane preparedness and evacuation, including telephone numbers. Some important contacts include statewide road conditions, which can be called at 1-800- 452-9292 or going to Texas Online - The Official Portal of Texas at www.texasonline.com.

You can also go to my Web site, which will provide links, Web sites of various sources for hurricane preparedness, planning for an evacuation, tips on hurricane preparedness as well as state and federal government resources.

Also, if you are elderly or disabled and need hurricane evacuation assistance, you can call 2-1-1. This service will assist you in hurricane evacuation.

Overall, being prepared for a hurricane while living in a coastal region is very important. Please again feel free to check out the campaign Web site electtoddhunter.com as well as the information that we’ve provided in this article. Hopefully, this will be a quiet season and a safe one.

Todd Hunter, R- Corpus Christi, is the District 32 State Representative. Contact him at E2-808, P.O. Box 2910, Austin TX 78768; (512) 463-0672, the district office at (361) 949-4603 or todd.hunter@house.state. tx.us.