Forecasters across the country believe an “above-normal” Atlantic hurricane season is on the horizon, and Mississippians are encouraged to get prepared before it’s too late.
“Mississippians should be aware that while the state is better prepared than ever to respond to a hurricane, it is imperative they need to take an active role in improving their ability to prepare for, survive, and recover from the impacts of hurricanes by developing a family emergency plan, learning evacuation routes, and assembling a three to five-day disaster supply kit,” the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency notes on its website.
With the Atlantic hurricane season beginning on June 1 and lasting until Nov. 30, MEMA officials are urging people in all parts of the state to have a disaster supply kit that includes:
- Flashlight and battery-powered radio with additional batteries
- Canned and non-perishable food
- Bottled water
- Toiletry items
- Pet food and pet supplies, if a pet owner
- Medicine and prescription medication
- Copies of important family papers and documents
MEMA has an entire web page dedicated to hurricane tips, including how to make a plan in the case of a hurricane, preparation for power outages, and a breakdown of recovery information.
The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, according to the National Oceanic Administration and leading weather researchers at Colorado State University, has the potential to include 19 named storms. Those at CSU said four of the named storms could become “major,” meaning Category 3 status or higher with winds reaching at least 111 miles per hour.
“We anticipate an above-average probability for major hurricanes making landfall along the continental United States coastline and in the Caribbean,” CSU senior researcher scientist Dr. Phil Klotzbach told FOX Weather after his team’s initial report was released in April.
As for the Gulf Coast from the Florida Panhandle moving west through Alabama, Mississippi, and ending in Brownsville, Texas, there is a 33% chance of a major hurricane making landfall. That’s above the 27% average across 42 years of CSU researchers issuing seasonal hurricane forecasters.
In 2024, the Atlantic had 18 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and five major hurricanes. Mississippi experienced one hurricane, Francine, which made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane before crossing into Mississippi as a tropical depression.
With the 2025 season expected to bring with it some serious storms, it could also bring up traumatic memories for some Mississippians. Aug. 29 marks the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina making landfall in Mississippi in 2005, killing hundreds, displacing thousands, and causing billions in damage. Stephen McCraney, director of MEMA, encourages residents to use those memories as a driving force behind preparations for the incoming season.
“The past has taught us that all it takes is one hurricane,” he said. “Remember how tough those times were during Katrina and don’t put yourself in harm’s way. Everybody who survived it, we’re still here to make smart choices. Unfortunately, we have a lot of folks who didn’t survive that storm. So, make sure that you, your family, your pets, everything that you’ve got, is ready. You’ve got to have a plan.”
