With the latest wave of storms making their presence known to us, it's important for everyone to be prepared for these monster hurricanes. When you're living at home with family, it seems so much easier to prepare. Our parents have already stocked up on water and canned foods, and we go out and grab any other necessary supplies.

But when you live on your own away from home at school, preparing for hurricanes seems like a much harder task. We forget to take Mother Nature seriously, and we often procrastinate until it's too late.

Most college students prepare for hurricanes like this:

1. Stock up on potato chips and alcohol.

Ah, yes, the bare necessities. Walking into any local market and all of the cheap beer and wine is gone. Bags of ripped potato chips lay scattered on the floor. Everyone's house has a cooler full of alcohol and pantry stocked with chips. Well done.

2. Plan hurricane parties.

Those of us that have lived through hurricanes know how dangerous they are, but when kids from out of state get together, they plan hurricane parties to "ride out the storm." Nothing says, "let's stay safe in this hurricane" by throwing a huge rager and praying the power doesn't go out in the middle of the DJ's set.

Now, this is how college students should prepare for hurricanes:

3. Gather necessary supplies.

Have a bag or a box with all your necessary hurricane supplies. This includes flashlights with plenty of batteries, first aid kits, candles (as an alternate light source), portable phone chargers, cash, and water purifiers. Other items, like sandbags or wood planks, should be on a list to protect your home.

4. Stock up on food and water.

Last minute preppers will know the difficulty of trying to find water bottles and non-perishables. Stores are left bare days before a storm strikes. Every person in your house should have a gallon of water for themselves. As far as food goes, canned goods will be your source of food if you lose power. Canned fruits, vegetables that don't need to be cooked, jerky, cans of tuna, and any other foods that don't spoil should be added to your food list. Make sure to buy food for any pets you may have too!

5. Seal your documents.

All important documents, such as social security paperwork, car insurance, birth certificates, school transcripts, bank paperwork, or anything else with your personal information on it, should be sealed in waterproof Ziploc bags or laminated, and kept on your person or in a safe space. Keep them dry and accessible in case of emergency.

6. Stay informed.

Some people won't know what's happening until it's right before their eyes! Stay informed. Keep watching the news, check between different news outlets, and stay on top of the storm. The hurricane can change its course or keep charging forward, and the only way to keep yourself safe is to be aware.

7. Change locations.

If you live on the first floor of the apartment building, adjacent to the pool, you might want to consider spending the storm with a friend that lives in a better location. Houses on higher elevation, or places that can put up shutters or sandbags are better suited for storms than apartment complexes. Make sure to talk to your landlord first before putting up any storm shutters or planks of wood.

8. Evacuate.

High risk areas, low-lying communities, and coastal homes may be told to evacuate. If this happens, get in touch with family or friends and let them know you have to leave. Pack up only the necessities- clothes, nonperishable foods, personal documents, cash, and pets- and prepare to be evacuated from your home for at least a week. That means you should have a week's supply of your items, and should be prepared to be gone for longer.

Godspeed to all of us here in Florida, readying ourselves for Hurricane Irma.