WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – On Thursday, Gov. Josh Stein and emergency management officials shared an update on hurricane season in North Carolina.
As questions surround the future of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) amid the Trump Administration’s federal cuts, Gov. Stein said the state is going into the 2025 hurricane season with more uncertainty than usual.
“Cuts to NOAA and FEMA are a man-made disaster,” Stein told the press Thursday. “We need these critical agencies to help us anticipate and respond to natural disasters.”
It comes as NOAA’s 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook predicts an above-normal season, with up to 10 hurricanes, at most five being major.
In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s destruction last September, the state’s Emergency Management Director William Ray said the volume of needs out west has caused the state to re-evaluate its supply chain.
“This year’s hurricane season will look different,” Ray said. “Amid the uncertainties surrounding the federal role of disaster management and recovery programs, the state emergency response team both here at the state level and at the local emergency management level, as well as our partners, have remained focused on preparing for this hurricane season and other events that may be over the horizon this year.”
Stein said the state is focused on bringing lessons learned during Helene into this year’s hurricane season, which started June 1.
Some of the state’s priorities are improving communication and decreasing the spread of misinformation online.
Stein also stressed the importance of neighbors getting prepared for whatever the season brings.
“When federal resources aren’t certain, personal and local preparedness becomes all that more important,” Stein said. “The more you prepare, the more first responders can focus on keeping other people safe.”
How can I get prepared for hurricane season?
Senior Specialist Jason Fuller with New Hanover County Emergency Management said preparedness needs to be a year-long effort.
“The best thing you can do is have a checklist and have an emergency plan,” Fuller said.
Neighbors know how easily storms can get out of control, especially after Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 caught the region by surprise in September.
Fuller said neighbors need to download the app Code Red to stay informed about emergencies and sign up for the county’s emergency alert text system. Just text ReadyNHC to 24639 to receive the alerts.
“When you get an alert from us saying you need to evacuate your residence, that’s a really bad time to come up with a plan,” he said.
As for an emergency kit, Fuller said items to consider are battery-powered lights, portable water, non-perishable food, important documents, and medication.
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