(RALEIGH) -- Gov. Bev Perdue has proclaimed this week as Hurricane Preparedness Week and is urging North Carolinians to develop family emergency plans and supplies kits. Hurricane season officially begins June 1 and runs through November.

Others are urging families to also not forget about a plan for four-legged family members. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker said pet owners should have an evacuation plan and an emergency kit for cats, dogs, and other pets.

"You want to have the typical things you thing about like a couple of weeks of food and water, you want to have the medications that your pet is on, you want to have copies of their medical records, extra parasite control products, the things that you tend to not think about are carriers for each pet," said Becker.

He also recommends finding out which nearby hotels are pet-friendly in case you have to leave your home and keeping photos and medical information about your pets on a flash drive in case you get separated from them.

Gov. Perdue urged families, businesses and local governments to assemble emergency supply kits. The kit should contain enough non-perishable food and a gallon of water per person per day to last three to seven days. The kit should also include the following essentials:

· Copies of insurance papers and identification sealed in a watertight plastic bag
· First-aid kit
· Weather radio and batteries
· Supply of prescription medicines
· Bedding
· Changes of clothes
· Hygiene items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and deodorant
· Cash or checkbook
· Pet supplies including food, water, leashes, bedding, muzzle and vaccination records

“Whether the damage comes from flooding, storm surge, destructive winds, tornadoes or landslides, we must be ready as individuals, families, communities and as a state,” said Perdue.

The Atlantic has already produce two tropical systems with the latest, Tropical Depression Beryl, still posing a threat to dump considerable amounts of rain on parts of North Carolina.