Officials brace for hurricane season ahead of 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina — here's how they're preparing
City leaders in New Orleans are prepared for the 2025 hurricane season, which has officially begun.
They said they have learned their lessons from Hurricane Katrina 20 years ago, as well as other extreme storms, and have new and improved disaster preparedness measures in place.
As Axios New Orleans reported, New Orleans officials are ready to promptly open shelters and cooling centers for residents to handle extreme summer heat.
These efforts can help people avoid suffering from heat-related conditions following power outages and blackouts that can take out residential air conditioning systems.
New Orleans now has solar-powered "community lighthouses" at churches and community centers to address fragile grid issues. Meanwhile, the city has strengthened levees and the power grid while improving storm forecasting and communication with and among residents.
However, officials still emphasized the need for individuals and families to take disaster preparedness into their own hands and build their own resilience when strong storms hit.
Human-induced climate change intensifies and escalates extreme weather events like hurricanes. Storms are becoming more powerful than ever before, posing increased risks to New Orleans and other vulnerable coastal communities.
It is encouraging to hear that New Orleans has taken additional precautionary measures to prepare for storms. However, there are also concerns and uncertainties about the future of the national FEMA disaster response under the Trump administration.
Although the National Hurricane Center noted in its first daily tropical outlook of the season on May 15 that all was quiet, as Axios shared, the most active hurricane period in the Gulf is typically in August and September.
City disaster preparedness actions are undoubtedly helpful, but they might not be enough to keep you and your family safe during an extreme storm. Creating your own personal emergency plan and discussing it with your family members, friends, and neighbors is critical.
What would you do if natural disasters were threatening your home?
Move somewhere else
Reinforce my home
Nothing
This is happening already
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
One thing you can do in advance to boost your storm resilience is to install solar panels. If you generate your own energy rather than relying on the grid, you can keep your appliances and cooling system on to remain safe and healthy during a blackout.
EnergySage makes saving up to $10,000 on solar installation costs easy with its free tool to compare quotes from vetted local installers.
Due to the upfront costs required, purchasing solar panels isn't a feasible option for everyone. To reduce your initial investment, consider leasing solar panels.
If panels are connected to the grid without a battery system or grid disconnection switch, you will generally lose power if the grid goes out, but they still offer plenty of benefits. Beyond being better for the environment than relying on dirty fuels, they can help protect homeowners from fluctuating electricity prices. Palmetto's LightReach solar panel leasing program helps homeowners install panels for no money down while locking in low energy rates.
Meanwhile, weatherizing your home makes it more capable of withstanding dangerous conditions. Hurricane prep, such as packing a go-bag, stocking up on non-perishable food, and keeping a supply of fresh water, is also important, while evacuation orders must be followed.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
2 hours ago
- The Hill
Rain, thunderstorms forecast for DC military parade
Rain and thunderstorms are forecast for Saturday in the nation's capital, where a day of festivities and a military parade are scheduled to celebrate the U.S. Army's 250th birthday — which happens to coincide with President Trump's 79th birthday. The daylong festivities in Washington, D.C., will take place mostly on the National Mall, where a fitness event will be held at 9:30 a.m. and a festival will kick off at 11 a.m. The festival will include meet-and-greet opportunities with soldiers, Army astronauts, NFL representatives and Medal of Honor recipients. The festival will also feature military demonstrators, equipment displays, a cake-cutting ceremony and other activities. The main event on Saturday — the Army Birthday Parade — will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last until 9:30 p.m. The National Weather Service (NWS) is saying there is a 60 percent chance of precipitation throughout the day but that heavy rainfall is most likely for the first 90 minutes or so of the parade, NWS is forecasting 'showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm,' between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Then the forecast transitions to a 'chance of showers and thunderstorms,' between 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Earlier in the day — until 2 p.m. — NWS says there's a 'chance of showers.' And between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., NWS forecasts 'a chance of showers and thunderstorms.' NWS says throughout the day, the sky will be 'mostly cloudy' and the high will near 84 degrees. At night, the forecast is cloudy and the low is around 67 degrees.
Newsweek
8 hours ago
- Newsweek
Donald Trump's Military Parade Could Be Rained Out
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Attendees of the upcoming military parade celebrating the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary may need to watch the skies and pack rain gear, as showers are forecasted to affect the Washington, D.C. area on Saturday. Why It Matters The parade, which will take place on Flag Day and coincides with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday, is expected to be attended by hundreds of thousands, D.C. officials told reporters, according to CBS News. During his first term as president, Trump attempted to organize a similar event after being impressed with a military-led display to mark Bastille Day in Paris during a visit to France, though the plans were canceled following criticism. A U.S. Army reviewing stand being built in front of the White House ahead of the Army's 250th birthday parade on June 11, 2025. A U.S. Army reviewing stand being built in front of the White House ahead of the Army's 250th birthday parade on June 11, To Know In its forecast for June 14, the National Weather Service (NWS) predicted a 60 percent chance of precipitation, with a thunderstorm possible after 2 p.m. Skies were expected to be mostly cloudy, with a high of 88 degrees Fahrenheit, it added. For Saturday night, the NWS said showers would also be likely, and an additional thunderstorm would be possible after 2 a.m. The sky would remain mostly cloudy, it said. AccuWeather meteorologist Alex DaSilva told Newsweek that the outlet was forecasting "times of clouds and sun with the odd thunderstorm in spots." Onlookers could expect humid conditions, although the temperature would be slightly below average for this time of year. "While it doesn't look like a washout, a few thunderstorms can be around especially during the middle to late afternoon hours," DaSilva said. Rainfall totals could be between one-tenth and one-quarter of an inch, DaSilva added. Inclement weather marked both of Trump's inaugurations, with rain beginning as the Republican began his 2017 speech, and 2025's address being moved indoors due to winter weather. What People Are Saying AccuWeather meteorologist Alex DaSilva told Newsweek: "Spectators will be urged to keep an eye to the sky just in case there is lightning and to maybe bring a raincoat in case of a downpour." President Donald Trump, on Truth Social: "We're honoring the 250th anniversary of the greatest fighting force in history, the United States Army. We will celebrate a spectacular military parade in Washington DC, like no other. "For two and a half centuries, the men and women of America's army have dominated our enemies and protected our freedom at home. This parade salutes our soldiers' remarkable strength and unbeatable spirit. You won't want to miss it! Just don't miss this one. It's gonna be good. "Thundering tanks and break-taking flyovers will roar through our capital city as nearly 7,000 soldiers march in historic uniforms from every major war since the Revolution. Join us for this once-in-a-lifetime celebration. I think it's gonna be better and bigger than any parade we've ever had in this country." He added: "I'm going to be there. I'll be watching the entire event. It's gonna be something very, very special." What Happens Next Forecasts are subject to change and often become more accurate nearer to the date in question.
New York Times
8 hours ago
- New York Times
Google and U.S. Experts Join on A.I. Hurricane Forecasts
For the first time, the National Hurricane Center in Miami is working with an artificial intelligence company to improve its forecasts of the powerful storms that kill thousands of people globally every year. The Atlantic season has just begun and runs through November. DeepMind, a Google company based in London, announced on Thursday that it was supplying the government forecasters with a newly enhanced variety of its weather forecasting models. Specialized to focus on hurricanes, the model tracks a storm's development for up to 15 days, predicting not only its path but also its strength, an ability that earlier A.I. models lacked. Strength readings can make storm warnings far more accurate. So can reliable predictions of hurricane paths, which are known to zigzag, loop around, slow down, make hairpin turns or come to a complete stop. The hurricane center is not eliminating its human forecasters. Instead, the Google A.I. program will be used on an experimental basis by those same experts in their existing work. Still, the research partnership is the first time in which the Miami center is drawing on an A.I. company to learn how to better warn of nature's most destructive storms. 'It's about helping people protect themselves,' Wallace Hogsett, the center's science and operations officer, said in an interview. The union of skilled human forecasters and the A.I. tool, he added, has the potential to create 'a really powerful partnership.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
