[caption id="attachment_29857" align="aligncenter" width="640"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/hermine.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-29857"><img class="size-full wp-image-29857" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/hermine.jpg" alt="A tree was split during Tropical Storm Hermine on Sept. 2. Photo courtesy of the Beaufort Fire Department." width="640" height="480" /></a> A tree was split during Tropical Storm Hermine on Sept. 2. Photo courtesy of the Beaufort Fire Department.[/caption]
<h3>By Sally Mahan</h3>
Tropical Storm Hermine could have been much worse, but luckily Beaufort County escaped largely unscathed except for some flooding, a lot of debris, some downed trees and power outages.

Just because Hermine didn’t cause extensive damage, however, the Federal Emergency Management Agency reminds residents and businesses to always be prepared for hurricanes.

September is National Preparedness Month and as tropical storm activity increases, FEMA encourages residents in the Southeast to make disaster preparedness a priority.

“September is also the peak of hurricane season, so preparing now is even more critical for families and businesses in the Southeast,” said FEMA Region IV Regional Administrator Gracia Szczech.

“Make preparedness a part of your everyday life. Prepare for the hazards that are most likely to occur where you live and work. Talk to your family and make a family disaster plan. But don’t stop there. Practice your plan. Practicing in advance of a disaster makes you better prepared to handle any emergency you may encounter.”

Across the nation, disasters are occurring with greater frequency, and are larger and more complex. Severe weather and other emergencies can strike with little or no warning and can have disastrous impacts.

Already this year, states across the Southeast have experienced destructive storms and flooding. Eight named tropical cyclones have formed this season, and they serve as a reminder to be ready for hurricanes.

Download and use the free FEMA app, which provides valuable safety tips to help you prepare for and recover from more than 20 natural and man-made hazards. The FEMA app lets you receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations across the nation, making it easy to follow severe weather that may be threatening your family and friends.

The app also provides family communication plans, a customizable checklist of emergency supplies and maps of open shelters and disaster recovery centers. The app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.