Here are five things you can do right now to prepare for Hurricane Florence without breaking the bank.

Right now, Hurricane Florence is barrelling towards the Eastern seaboard and is expected to make landfall as, at least, a Category 4 storm.

It is expected to hit the Carolinas, but even a slight deviation north could put southern Virginia right in its path. Even if it stays on its course, southern Virginia will be hit by torrential rains, tropical storm-force winds, and significant storm surges. Residents living farther north could see the storm cause flooding and power outages.

The time to prepare is right now. Here are five things you can do, just in case.

1. Refill Your Medication Prescriptions

In a massive storm like this, it is so easy for people to become trapped in their homes or for roads to become impassable. The last thing people usually have on their minds is whether or not they have enough pills to last the next week.

If you can refill your medication, do it. If you can't, make sure you keep your medication with you at all times (especially during any evacuation). Even if they are empty, having your name on a bottle will make it that much easier to get more if you do end up having to evacuate.

2. Keep Your Phones and Devices Charged

While it is still unlikely that Virginia will suffer a direct hit from the storm, it is still possible that many areas of the state will see power outages. As we get closer and closer to landfall, make sure that you keep all of your phones and devices fully charged. Having a couple of backup batteries for your phone isn't a bad idea, either.

In addition to helping you pass the time in an outage, being able to call for help can mean the difference between life and death in emergencies like these.

Whatever you do, don't plan on being able to charge your phone in your cars. Not only is this dangerous, but it wastes gasoline which could become invaluable in an emergency situation. It should only be done as a last resort. 

3. Stock Up on Essentials When You're at the Grocery Store

The minute people get whiff of a coming storm, there is always a run on the bread and milk. This makes no sense. If you lose power, the milk will spoil and bread tends to only have a shelf life of a couple of days.

There's no need to go crazy at the grocery store. Only buy things you usually eat. But if you can, buy a few extra non-perishable "just-in-case" items, like bottled water, canned fruits or vegetables, and boxes of nutritional granola bars. These are things with long shelf lives, and you won't be kicking yourself for having an extra case of bottled water lying around once the storm passes.

4. Check Your Yard for Potential "Missiles"

Even if you're not going to get the full brunt of the storm, it is still a good idea to do a quick walkthrough to check your yard for any potential hazards. If you have a dead or dying tree, consider cutting down any branches that could potentially fall on your house. Bring lawn furniture -- or anything that could become airborne -- inside and away from the winds. If you have a garage, make room so you can fit your car in it.

5. Fill Up Your Car's Gas Tank

As you are out and about this week, make sure you top off your gas tank. In any storm like this, one of the first amenities to go are the gas stations. If roads are blocked, trucks can't get through to refill a station's tanks, and if the power goes out, there is no electricity to pump the gasoline out of the underground tanks. 

The last thing you want to do is get stuck without enough gasoline to evacuate. So as we get to Wednesday and Thursday, top off your gas tanks.

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Chances are that Virginia will not receive a direct hit from Hurricane Florence, but even the outer bands of the storm can cause tremendous damage to shore areas and the electrical grid.

You don't have to be a "doomsday prepper" in order to prepare for the worst. Do these five simple things and you will be infinitely more prepared for Hurricane Florence or any other storm that follows.

Hurricane Florence is moving in. Here's the projected path of the storm.