Make sure that all family members know how to respond after a hurricane. Teach family members how and when to turn off gas, electricity, and water. Protect your property. Trim back dead or weak branches from trees. Protect your windows.
Permanent shutters are the best protection.
A lower-cost approach is to put up plywood panels. Remember to mark which board fits which window. Pre-drill holes every 18 inches for screws. Do this long before the storm. Taping windows doesn't protect glass, but might prevent deadly shards of broken glass from flying through the house.