While Hurricane Dean missed us by a wide margin, it’s never too late to be prepared.

Hurricane Dean drew a devastating blow to Jamaica and Mexico last week. However, coastal areas need to remember that even the later months of hurricane season can be deadly.

According to the National Weather Service, three of the most devastating storms to ever hit the United States were in August: Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Hurricane Camille in 1969 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Hurricane Katrina changed the way many residents react to the threat of a hurricane. As a result, businesses are preparing ahead of time.

Cindy Keas, a manager at the Money Store, said personnel information sheets, which include employee physical addresses, have been updated so the business can pitch in and try to help their employees in devastated areas.

“There certainly are businesses that do not need to stay open before a hurricane,” Keas said, “and businesses like that should let employees go home and prepare for the storm.”

Keas, no stranger to hurricanes, already has precut boards for her windows.

After Hurricane Katrina, she purchased a generator and has plenty of food and water already stocked. If she does evacuate, she is adamant that her dog, Zoie, travel with her to safety.

Several national and local agencies have some disaster preparedness tips to help keep you and your family safe.

The Humane Society of the United States has pet preparedness tips in case of a disaster listed on its Web site.

The Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency Web site includes information such as shelters of last resort, medical needs shelters, pet shelters, community college shelters, transportation to shelters and what to bring to a shelter.

Resident Jennifer Byrd said the authorities give enough adequate warning here to prepare and she chooses not to evacuate.

On occasion, she will cook gumbo or red beans and rice prior to a storm to have on hand.

But even with Southern comfort foods, when a hurricane heads this way Byrd said, “sometimes I wish I still lived up north. It’s a little scary.”

The Red Cross Web site lists six basic items for hurricane preparedness: food, water (a three day supply, preferably in plastic bottles), first aid supplies, clothing and bedding, tools and emergency supplies and specialty items.

A transplant from Morgan City, La., Christy McGraw said, “If a hurricane comes this way, I’m not staying. I lost my house with Hurricane Katrina.” She has a 32-foot camper already loaded for a hasty exit and will take her file cabinet which holds her important papers.

The worst part of Hurricane Katrina was not being able to get in contact with other people, she said. She added that she likes the idea of having someone outside the area serve as a phone liaison.

Though many people in this area have experienced a hurricane, resident Krystal Simmons has never been in one and doesn’t plan on staying here.

“I’d leave for my own safety and probably go up north,” Simmons said.

She said she has some meals-ready-to-eat on hand, though she doesn’t particularly find it appealing to dine on food out of a box, but it may be necessary.

With all the media coverage, which makes her nervous, she said, “It doesn’t really become real until it happens to you.”