ORLANDO, Fla. -- Last year's hurricane season -- which saw two of the most powerful storms on record in the Atlantic basin -- may have been a wakeup call for all of us.

Hurricane Irma, which reached Category 5 strength before slammed into Marco Island as a Category 3 in September, cut a destructive path northeast across the peninsula, forcing the evacuations of millions of people.

About week later, Hurricane Maria reached Category 5 strength in the Caribbean. It was a strong Category 4 when it slammed into Puerto Rico, leading to the deaths of more than 4,600 people, according to a recent study by Harvard University researchers.

With the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season upon us, officials stress that you shouldn't wait till a tropical cyclone is forming before having a plan in place and supplies stocked.

What should you know before coming up with a plan? How many days' worth of food and water should you have ready?

We talked with Federal Emergency Management Agency official John Mills for tips and suggestions on what you should do before a storm strikes.