"We were new to Colleton River 8 years ago, moving from Annapolis, MD; and preparing for hurricanes was a whole different story for us. Right after we moved to CR, we experienced our first hurricane with Matthew. We didn't know if we should stay or if we should go. Many friends said that we should stay and other friends said that we should 'escape' while we had the chance. So at the very last minute, which was at 5:00 am the morning of Hurricane Matthew, we packed up our 2 Spaniels, our goods, and escaped to Atlanta, GA."
-Debbie King, Colleton River Resident

We asked neighbors and the businesses that partner with Stroll to share tips for the hurricane season which is from June through November.

Are milk and bread really necessities for preparing for a hurricane? Let's find out...

1. MOST IMPORTANT:  Have all of your medicines and pet medicines for at least one month. When Hurricane Matthew hit, the drugstores had to destroy all refrigerated medicines due to the loss of electricity. These medicines were not replenished for a couple of weeks.
2. Purchase a few cooler shopping bags so you can store any cold medicines and make sure you have your frozen ice packs ready to put into your cooler bags.
3. Have plenty of C and D batteries. I would recommend purchasing camping lanterns (we have 3 Coleman Lanterns which are great), good flashlights (we bought 2 "Magnalite Professional Flashlights)  and this year I bought a battery radio.
4. Buy a cell phone charger. This year I bought an "iWalk" fast charger. It might be good to have a couple of these just in case.
5. Gallons of drinking water – you will need one gallon per person per day + water for pets.
6. Buy canned foods (vegetables, tuna, chicken, soups) and make sure you have your pets'  canned and dry food for 2 weeks.
7. Packaged foods – crackers, oatmeal, energy bars, granola + a jar of peanut butter or almond butter + bread.
8. Have enough paper products:  plates, napkins, plastic utensils, paper towels, moist towelettes, toilet paper, trash bags, and baby diapers.
9. A first aid kit is also a good idea in case you cannot get to an urgent care facility."

- Debbie King, Colleton River Resident

"Do not drain your pool!  Keep your pumps on and operating for as long as we have electricity. If the pool overflows that is not a problem, just a larger clean up, but draining the pool causes more of a cleanup."
- Dawn Bullock, A1 Pool Service

"The best thing a homeowner can do is be proactive. Not only is procuring a small supply of water, batteries, flashlights etc. important, but also being proactive in their landscape:

• Water Drainage - Do you have drainage grates on your property? Are they cleaned and clear, ready for storm water? Moving water quickly and safely away from your house is very important. As the season nears make sure your gutters, downspouts, and drain boxes are clear. If you currently do not have proper drainage it might be something to consider. Walk the property after a normal rain – that small pooling of water near your foundation, in your garage, or service yard is going to be more severe in a hurricane.
• Wind/Tree/Palm Care - Weak/dead limbs in a palm or tree can be potentially dangerous in a hurricane. With wind speeds reaching on average 100mph, that weak or dead branch in your oak tree can turn into a damaging projectile. Consistent pruning throughout a tree's life removes dead and weak limbs. It also thins the canopy allowing wind to flow unobstructed during hurricanes reducing potential damage. Deep root fertilizations are highly recommended to keep trees healthy and strong. The stronger the roots the more likely a tree will survive a storm. Most tree companies will give a resident a free consultation. So it cannot hurt to get a certified arborist onsite to review their property."

- Evan Hernandez, Hilton Head Landscapes

"What is your power plan?

A power plan will prepare you for when inevitable power outages or anomalies occur. Having a power plan can save you thousands of dollars in equipment repairs, allow the equipment you purchase to perform at its best, and provide you maximum enjoyment and peace of mind.

Microprocessors are extremely vulnerable to power inconsistencies, really harming the longevity of electronics and increasing issues with an entire system all the way down the line. With all the sensitive microprocessors we’re putting into modern homes, (lighting control, security, networking equipment, entertainment, control systems), and the lifestyle consequences of a microprocessor failure, the need for high-quality consistent power is greater than ever.

You might be asking yourself, “What is a power plan?”

It is a plan that will provide appropriate levels of protection and backup for the critical devices in your residence or office."

- Ron Angner, Play Home Technology

"My tip is to know where your storm shutters are and have someone you trust to secure them if you can't yourself. This helps for many reasons if a window breaks. Some of those are rain damage and airflow that could blow off the roof."

- Wayne Whipple, Whipple Roofing & Gutters