Latest news with #2025HurricaneGuide
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Berkeley, Dorchester Counties Urge Hurricane Preparedness as Season Begins
DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) — Emergency management officials in Berkeley and Dorchester counties are urging residents to take early steps to prepare for hurricane season, which officially began June 1 and runs through the end of November. Both counties have been reviewing emergency plans, hosting training exercises, and coordinating with state and federal partners to ensure a swift response when storms approach. In Dorchester County, officials say flooding remains their most consistent and serious threat during tropical systems. 'Our typical large threat here, and as part of the Lowcountry, is flooding,' said Thomas McNeil, Dorchester County's Emergency Management Director. 'We're always practicing, always training. It's important that we train that way so that the folks that sit here are ready and well prepared.' McNeil said the county is preparing for its annual hurricane response drill later this month, which brings together emergency leaders from across departments to test storm scenarios and communications. Meanwhile in Berkeley County, Emergency Management Coordinator Tori Renshaw said one of the most important lessons came from Tropical Storm Debby, which impacted the area in 2024. 'That was a very lengthy storm. It spanned over the course of a week from the beginning of the storm to the end of the storm,' said Renshaw. 'That's the other thing that folks need to remember. It's not just the day that the hurricane hits. There are effects that are felt before the hurricane makes landfall and after it makes landfall. And we did see a lot of flooding in areas that we hadn't previously seen flooding.' With continued growth and development across the region, officials say they've updated emergency plans to account for shifting flood zones and infrastructure. Berkeley County has also released its updated 2025 Hurricane Guide, which includes evacuation zones, shelter information, and preparedness tips. It's available on the county website, at all library branches, and the administration building. Residents in both counties are encouraged to: • Know their evacuation zones • Update emergency kits • Create a family communication plan • Sign up for emergency alerts like Smart911 • Consider needs for pets, elderly family members, and those with medical needs 'We're doing everything we can at the local level to make sure that our citizens are prepared,' said Renshaw. Hurricane season runs through November 30. Download Berkeley County's 2025 Hurricane Guide here. Check your evacuation zone: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
City of Tampa holds hurricane prep briefing
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The city of Tampa is holding a hurricane readiness briefing Friday afternoon. Tampa was one of many Florida cities that suffered heavily from a series of hurricanes in 2024, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Keep yourself ready with the WFLA 2025 Hurricane Guide Several areas saw unprecedented flooding and outages that lasted days after Milton blew through Tampa Bay. Mayor Jane Castor said the city's stormwater teams have already removed 500 tons of debris from drains and other waterways, which helps keep stormwater from collecting and flooding neighborhoods. The city has urged residents to take steps to make sure they're prepared in case of emergency. These include: Making an evacuation plan Having an emergency kit ready Trimming trees when necessary Collecting gasoline for generators Keeping yourself informed Tampa residents can text TampaReady to 888-777 for updates. Spanish speakers can text TampaLista to the same number for Spanish updates. A Hurricane Prep Expo will be held at the Barksdale Senior Center on 1801 North Lincoln Avenue from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
