tomorrow.

A Police spokeswoman said yesterday: "Preparation is the key to prevent the potential of a national disaster becoming a personal one''.

Homes can be made more secure if residents prune large trees, which could fall on telephone lines or homes during high winds, she said.

And she noted that insecure windows and shutters should be repaired also.

As hurricanes confine people to their homes, she continued, emergency supplies should be replenished as early in the season as possible.

And a portable radio should always be kept on hand so that hurricane updates can be heard during a power outage from the Emergency Radio Broadcast frequency -- 100.1 MHz on the FM band.