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Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Climate
- Miami Herald
Hurricane season is no joke to Floridians, Mr. FEMA director
The 2025 hurricane season is under way, but its start became a cringe-inducing moment for Floridians. Acting FEMA Director David Richardson, named in early May to run the crucial national disaster management agency, reportedly said he was surprised to learn that the U.S. has a hurricane season. That's according news reports based on staffers present at a briefing on Monday to discuss the hurricane season, which runs from June 1-Nov. 30. A Homeland Security spokesperson quickly tried to clean up the situation, saying Richardson was just joking. Maybe so, but that's one clunker of a joke down here in the hurricane zone. Floridians live nervously every year through an increasingly scary hurricane season. We know there's nothing to laugh about, especially considering the most recent batch of more intense and wetter hurricanes. So as Florida prepares for yet another active hurricane season, Richardson, head of the top emergency rescue agency, thinks it's amusing to feign ignorance about the season's very existence. This year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, we have reason to worry. This hurricane season activity is expected to be above normal, with 13 to 19 named storms and three to five major hurricanes predicted. Blame a confluence of factors, including warmer than average ocean temperatures, forecasts for weak wind shear and the potential for higher activity from the West African Monsoon, a primary starting point for Atlantic hurricanes. All of these elements tend to favor tropical storm formation, the agency said in a news release. Back to Richardson's disturbing 'joke.' He's a former Marine and Homeland Security official with no experience in emergency management and who is stepping into a battered FEMA. The agency has lost a quarter of its workforce. Richardson's predecessor, Cameron Hamilton, was forced out after expressing public support for FEMA's mission — an apparent contradiction to President Donald Trump's stance on reducing the size of the agency. Under the Trump administration's 'Big Beautiful Bill,' there are plans to cut $646 million from FEMA and reduce its long-term disaster recovery programs, with responsibility shifting to states. And yet Richardson reportedly told employees FEMA should handle this year's hurricanes the same way it did last year. 'The FEMA system is a broken system that, when fixed, will return power to state emergency management directors and make America safe again,' Homeland Security head, Kristi Noem, recently told a Congressional panel. Noem runs FEMA. However, critics on the panel warned that the cuts would weaken disaster readiness and shift an unsustainable burden to local governments. Also, Floridians know there can be drawbacks to a local response: When an entire area is hit hard by a hurricane, we are all incapacitated, including the local government. At those times, we need federal aid via FEMA, parachuted in and self-sustaining. Richardson may have been joking, but who will the joke be on if 'the Big One' strikes Florida? Click here to send the letter.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Georgians 'be prepared': NOAA predicts above-normal Atlantic hurricane season for 2025
Some Georgians are still haunted by the destruction of Hurricane Helene. But it wasn't the first storm and it won't be the last. On Thursday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its outlook for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season (June 1 through Nov. 30). It doesn't look good: NOAA is predicting a 60% chance of above-normal hurricane activity, 30% chance of near-normal conditions, and 10% chance of below-normal conditions. The agency is forecasting 13 to 19 named storms (which happens when winds reach 39 mph). Of those, 6-10 are forecast to become hurricanes (winds of at least 74 mph) including 3-5 major hurricane (at least a category 3 with winds of 111 mph or higher). Experts at NOAA have 70% confidence in these forecasts, with National Weather Service Director Ken Graham saying in his 30 years at NWS, they have never had more advanced models and warning systems in place. "This outlook is a call to action: Be prepared," Graham said. "Take proactive steps now to make a plan and gather supplies to ensure you're ready before a storm threatens." To get into the technical aspects, NOAA says this is due to a "confluence of factors" including ENSO-neutral conditions (essentially meaning average sea surface temperatures), warmer than average ocean temperatures, weak wind shear, higher activity from the West African Monsoon. This all tends to favor tropical storm formations. Andrea: AN-dree uh Barry: BAIR-ree Chantal: shahn-TAHL Dexter: DEHK-ster Erin: AIR-rin Fernand: fair-NAHN Gabrielle: ga-bree-ELL Humberto: oom-BAIR-toh Imelda: ee-MEHL-dah Jerry: JEHR-ee Karen: KAIR-ren Lorenzo: loh-REN-zoh Melissa: meh-LIH-suh Nestor: NES-tor Olga: OAL-guh Pablo: PAHB-lo Rebekah: reh-BEH-kuh Sebastien: se-BAS-tee-en Tanya: TAHN-yuh Van: van Wendy: WEN-dee Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for Gannett/USA Today. Find him on X and Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@ This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: NOAA predicts above-normal 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. What we know
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Trump's FEMA Chief Said He Didn't Know U.S. Has a Hurricane Season. Officials Now Claim It Was a Joke
Acting FEMA chief David Richardson reportedly told staffers on June 2 that he did not know that the United States had a hurricane season A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson has since said in a statement that the FEMA chief was simply joking, and that Richardson is "activated in preparation" for the 2025 hurricane season Richardson initially said that a new disaster response plan would be available in May but has now reportedly said the plan wouldn't be issued at all to not contradict the FEMA Review Donald Trump's acting Federal Emergency Management Agency chief reportedly told staff he did not know that the United States has a hurricane season, but officials claim the statement was simply a joke. David Richardson, who assumed the acting administrator of FEMA role in late May, is said to have made the comment during a briefing on Monday, June 2, according to Reuters, citing sources familiar with the situation. The outlet reported that it was unclear whether the comment was made literally or as a joke. But a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed the comment was made in jest, according to NBC News. The spokesperson also said Richardson is 'activated in preparation for Hurricane Season,' which began on Sunday, June 1 and concludes at the end of November. 'Despite meanspirited attempts to falsely frame a joke as policy, there is no uncertainty about what FEMA will be doing this Hurricane Season," the spokesperson said. "FEMA is laser focused on disaster response, and protecting the American people." A DHS spokesperson also told Reuters that "FEMA is shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens' under Richardson and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Despite previously telling staff to expect a new disaster response plan in May, Richardson told staffers during the daily briefing that there actually would be no changes made, according to Reuters. Richardson reportedly said in a May 15 meeting that a new plan would be available for review on May 23, but has now said that a new disaster plan wouldn't be issued, suggesting he does not want to make changes that could contradict the FEMA Review Council. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted that there could be six to 10 hurricanes this season. Three to five of those storms could become major hurricanes, which are classified as storms that reach Category 3 status or higher. According to NOAA, there is a 60% chance of an above-normal hurricane season, and just a 10% chance of a below-normal season. The above-normal prediction was made due to several factors, including 'warmer than average ocean temperatures, forecasts for weak wind shear, and the potential for higher activity from the West African Monsoon, a primary starting point for Atlantic hurricanes.' 'This outlook is a call to action: be prepared,' said NOAA's National Weather Service Director Ken Graham. 'Take proactive steps now to make a plan and gather supplies to ensure you're ready before a storm threatens." NOAA also predicted an above-normal hurricane season for 2024. Eleven storms reached hurricane status, falling within the eight-to-13 range predicted by forecasters ahead of the season. Five of those storms achieved major hurricane status, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton, falling within the predicted four-to-seven range. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. As North Carolina continues to recover from Hurricane Helene, President Trump recently denied the state's request to match "100 percent federal cost share for debris removal and emergency protective measures," according to ABC News and MSNBC. A total of 250 people were killed by the storm in seven states, including 107 in North Carolina, according to a report released in April by NOAA. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Early-season activity may indicate an above-average hurricane season in Louisiana. What to know
Saturday, June 1 marked the official start of hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean, and this year is forecasted to see an above-average number of storms. As of June 2, the National Hurricane Center has highlighted an area off of the southeast coast of Florida, and the U.S., for tropical cyclone activity. The storm system currently has a low chance of developing, however, rain and thunderstorms are expected to impact Florida in the following days. The National Hurricane Center is also monitoring a tropical wave off the cost of Africa, south of Cabo Verde, that's moving west at 17 mph. Dust from the Sahara is currently being carried westward across the Atlantic Ocean, and strong winds can transport this dust further to the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, according to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. This dust can help prevent tropical storms from developing or strengthening. In June, tropical storms typically develop close to the U.S., off of the southeast coast, in the Gulf Coast or in the Caribbean. Later in the season, storms usually form out of tropical waves moving off the coast of Africa, The Palm Beach Post reported. Early tropical storm activity can indicate an active hurricane season, although, this is not a definitive predictor. While early activity can suggest a more active season, it's possible that an active June and July can be followed by a quieter year, says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Peak hurricane activity is usually from mid-August until mid-October and, in some cases, hurricane season may have a quiet start in June and July, but see an increase of activity later in the season, says the NOAA. The NOAA has predicted this hurricane season to be above-normal, citing a number of factors for an above-average season, including continued ENSO-neutral conditions, warmer-than-average ocean temperatures, weak wind shear and the potential for higher activity from the West African Monsoon. Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@ This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: What does early tropical storm activity mean for hurricane season?
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Meteorology Monday (6-2-25): 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook
Elmira, N.Y. (WETM)- Happy Meteorology Monday! It's June, which means that the hurricane season has officially begun in the Atlantic basin. On this week's edition of Meteorology Monday, 18 Storm Team Meteorologist Alivia Colon breaks down the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) first hurricane season outlook and how it compares to last year's. To start, this year, there is a 60 percent chance for above normal activity, with a 30% chance for near normal activity, and the remaining 10 percent is for a below normal season. These numbers may not be high, but they do indicate that a slightly more active than normal season is possible and will need to be closely monitored before we head into peak season. Last year, NOAA forecasted a 90% chance for above normal activity by the time we got our second outlook, and that's exactly what happened: 18 named storms, 11 of which were hurricanes, and 5 were major. The forecast not only played out accurately, but we managed to do so even with an unusually quiet mid-season when activity typically peaks. If you remember, we had major storms very early in the season, and well into the late season as well. This year, our numbers only lean above average, but the chance for more activity is certainly present. This is based on factors such as warmer ocean temperatures, a forecasted ENSO neutral year, or a year without El Nino or La Nina, weaker forecasted wind changes with height, and a more active West African Monsoon forecasted, which is known to be a primary starting point for Atlantic hurricanes NOAA releases an outlook at the start of the season, and a second outlook before peak season, so make sure to keep an eye out for updates as the season ramps up. For more information, you can read about the full outlook and how NOAA is preparing for the season on their website here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
