As Massachusetts braces for the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season, Governor Maura Healey sets a pragmatic tone with her declaration of July 6-12 as "Hurricane Preparedness Week." In the wake of increasing storm frequency and intensity, this initiative spearheaded by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) underscores the urgency for residents and visitors to take practical steps toward disaster readiness. "With tropical storms becoming more frequent and intense, I encourage everyone living in or visiting Massachusetts to use Hurricane Preparedness Week to make the plans necessary to stay safe," Healey emphasized in a statement, according to mass.gov.
The emphasis on preparedness seems a timely and prescient acknowledgment of nature's unpredictability. Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll pointed out that "Both inland and coastal communities need to prepare for peak hurricane season," highlighting the broad scope of potential impact. Meanwhile, NOAA forecasters at the Climate Prediction Center predict an above-normal hurricane season, with 13-19 named storms on the horizon. In response, MEMA is doubling down on resources for the public, such as multilingual hurricane preparedness toolkits and educational materials promoted across various transportation platforms. Although hurricanes making landfall in New England are a rarity, the region is not immune to the remnants' destructive power—a reality not lost on Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy, who stated on mass.gov, "You don’t want to be caught off-guard by an approaching tropical storm, which is why now is the time to prepare." Reidy's counsel attests to a critical call for action before the peak season gains full momentum.
To cultivate a culture of readiness, MEMA recommends that residents familiarize themselves with their evacuation zones, create comprehensive family emergency plans, gather essential supplies for a robust emergency kit, and stay informed through multiple methods of communication. These steps resonate with MEMA Director Dawn Brantley's practical approach to emergency preparedness, which encourages starting with what you have. Brantley told mass.gov, "Hurricane Preparedness Week is the perfect time to take simple, affordable steps to keep your household safe. Being prepared doesn’t have to be expensive, but it can make all the difference."
Democratizing disaster preparedness through accessible information tools and community outreach is a priority for MEMA, which seeks to reach all individuals, including underserved and vulnerable populations. An online cache of resources, from multilingual social media toolkits to interactive evacuation zone maps, can be found on MEMA’s Hurricane Season Preparedness webpage. Ultimately, continually sharing preparedness and safety information throughout hurricane season embodies MEMA's commitment to safeguarding the commonwealth's human and structural assets against nature's formidable forces.
-_Good_pic.jpg){kind=link}