Thirty-three days to go before the 2025 Hurricane Season.
I woke this Monday morning with a renewed purpose after a visit from family over the weekend. We discussed our plans for the year, upcoming events, such as May birthdays, graduations, the latest family news, then on to the most important topic: preparation for the 2025 Hurricane Season.
With each new year comes the realization that all residents on the southern and eastern coasts of the U.S., including the Gulf Coast, must prepare for the upcoming hurricane season which begins on June 1st of each year and ends on November 30th.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the season officially begins on June 1, 2025, and will end on November 30, 2025. These dates, which have been adopted by convention, historically describe the period in each year when most subtropical or tropical cyclone activity occurs in the Atlantic Ocean (over 97%). The National Hurricane Center (NHC) will begin issuing regular Tropical Weather Outlooks on May 15, 2025, about two weeks prior to the start of the season. 1
It's not IF a hurricane will come. It's WHEN one comes and from which direction. The direction is the all-important variable as to which area on the Gulf Coast or Eastern Coast will be affected.
The hurricanes we residents are most concerned about originate in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico.
The terms "hurricane", "typhoon", and "tropical cyclone" can be used to describe this weather phenomenon.
These storms are continuously rotating around a low pressure center, which causes stormy weather across a large area.
This rotation is not limited to just the eye of the storm.
Hurricanes are organized systems of clouds and thunderstorms that originate over tropical or subtropical waters and have closed low-level circulation. 2
We don't know precisely how many or to what intensity hurricanes will develop or to what intensity they will reach. We do know that our weather is forecast nationally by NOAA. That agency is a Godsend in issuing annually their prediction of how many storms may appear.
Each year, the agency also provides a list of names given each storm. The 2025 hurricane names for 2025 has already been published.
Source
Those of us who've experienced the storms and lived through them know and remember how devastating they can be. According to NOAA, hurricanes that have a severe impact on lives or the economy are remembered by generations after the devastation they caused, and some go into weather history.
Whenever a hurricane has had a major impact, any country affected by the storm can request that the name of the hurricane be “retired” by agreement of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Retiring a name actually means that it cannot be reused for at least 10 years, to facilitate historic references, legal actions, insurance claim activities, etc. and avoid public confusion with another storm of the same name. If that happens, a like gender name is selected in English, Spanish or French for Atlantic Storms. 3
Closest to me is the National Hurricane Center near Miami, Florida. This Center monitors tropical disturbances in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific Oceans which could potentially become a hurricane then issues forecasts.
The forecasts include weekly and monthly changes if significant factors materialize that help determine the amount of tropical storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes within a particular season.
Once June 1st arrives, my family and I, as well as millions of others residing along the coasts in states such as Texas, Louisiana, and Florida, as well as all states on the eastern U.S. seaboard must prepare for various type situations resulting from hurricanes.
Several events that my family always prepare for are discussed below. I apologize in advance for the blurriness of some of my photos. I don't profess to be an expert photographer. Even my mobile phone photos suffer at my hands.
- Prepare an Emergency and Possible Evacuation Plan
Always have a plan in place that details the activities you need to follow, tools and supplies you'll require, and instructions you need to adhere to in case your family is required to shelter in place or evacuate.
I did manage to solicit assistance. Each family has a particular role once the Hurricane Season begins. All contact information is updated to ensure we all know each other's location.
To prepare for the possibility of evacuation, each year I first assess the current condition of our evacuation supplies. The primary item is our bug-out bags. I prepared a backpack for each family set. Next, I instruct each group to check the items I initially stocked to ensure that they're not out of date or damaged.
I don't remember how I was delegated the task to ensure all is taken care of in case of an emergency. I think it just evolved in that direction. My constant nagging to be prepared or else probably helped secure the nomination. They decided that it was best that I check everyone's bag.
So, during our family gathering on the weekend, we set aside an hour for this task. Below is my immediate family's Bug-Out Bag I store in the inside pantry.
These particular backpacks and preparations are not only for hurricanes, but any emergency situation. Included in every bag are N95 Masks, emergency kits, batteries; flashlights; drinking water vials; disinfectant wipes; alcohol prep pads; purifier; multi-purpose tool (e.x. Swiss Army Knife); 3-day supply of emergency food for a family of five.
You can choose to either build a kit or purchase one from a retailer. When deciding which route I wanted to take, I first compared the list distributed by NOAA to what the retailers were offering for a standard low-budget kit. Not all items were included. So, I decided to build my own kit and purchase the items in quantities so that I could build each family a bag. I found this to be the most economical. For a full list of items recommended for inclusion in your emergency bag, visit here.
- Loss of Electricity
An inconvenience indeed one may say. However, when you experience this for more than three days, the situation can turn dire. This is especially true for individuals who rely on medications that must be kept at refrigerator temperatures. I'm a Type 2 Diabetic. My weekly injections are refrigerated. In other cases, electricity is necessary for medical equipment, such as air tanks for survival.
To prepare for this loss, several family members purchased generators. For those who can't use a generator due to housing constraints, they rely on other family, often residing with them for several days. We must remember that it's not just the hours after the disaster strikes, it's the aftermath and dealing with the devastation that remains.
The list of items to keep handy are candles, batteries, and flashlights. At least one of the flashlights can be a flood light. Also extremely important is to have a battery operated emergency radio to stay abreast of the weather and any evacuation procedures. Finally, your mobile phone should be charged beforehand for contact purposes.
- Shelter In Place
If my family is required to shelter in place, then we must be prepared to endure several days without being able to venture outdoors. For this reason and to assist my family with staple, food, and other supplies, I decided to stock three panties. These are in addition to my two refrigerators and three freezers. If I experience loss of electricity, then I know that my frozen items are secure for at least twenty-four hours. Our decision to purchase a generator stemmed from our requirements.
Below are my pantry items that will last well beyond any 72-hour emergency we may experience. The essential items are the canned meat, fish, vegetables, and fruits. A manual can opener is essential to getting to these items.
- Flooding
If we experience a significant amount of rain and expect flooding will take place from advisory sources, we are prepared to evacuate ensuring we don't forget our bug-out bag. Otherwise, we shelter in place. I move all pantry items from the lower racks up six feet from the floor.
- Injury to Ourselves and Damage to Property
There exists the possibility during any hurricane that you may get hurt. We've put in place procedures for notifying other family if we're not able to all meet in one location.
Damage to property depends on numerous factors and can't be ruled out according to the intensity of the hurricane and how close it comes within our area.
No one wants to experience devastation as well as injury or death. But it can happen during any storm. And it doesn't necessarily have to be caused by a hurricane.
I hope some of the information I've provided on my preparation will give some direction. In all cases, stay in constant contact if possible with radio station broadcasts and emergency warnings.
SOURCES:
a) JustClickindiva's Footer created in Canva utilizing its free background and images used with permission from discord admins.
b) Unless otherwise noted, all photos taken by me with my (i) Samsung Galaxy 10" Tablet, (ii) Samsung Phone, & (iii) FUJI FinePix S3380 - 14 Mega Pixels Digital Camera
c) Purple Butterfly part of purchased set of Spiritual Clip Art for my Personal Use
d) All Community logos, banners, page dividers used with permission of Discord Channel admins.
e) Ladies of Hive banner used with permission of and in accordance with the admin's guidelines
f) Thumbnail Image created by me in Canva.
g) "Flames." What is Apophysis 2.09. https://flam3.com/
1 The 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Wikipedia. Online at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Atlantic_hurricane_season
2 Atlantic Hurricanes. Wikipedia. Online at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_hurricane
3 Retirement of Hurricane Names. NOAA. Online at: https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/graphics/lib/retiram.html
If translation included, I use DeepL to assist my readers.
Thanks for your patience an understanding.
