{"id":28003,"date":"2025-06-01T10:52:18","date_gmt":"2025-06-01T14:52:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mdem\/?p=28003"},"modified":"2025-06-01T11:10:27","modified_gmt":"2025-06-01T15:10:27","slug":"hurricane-season-begins-june-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mdem\/2025\/06\/01\/hurricane-season-begins-june-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Hurricane Season Begins June 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Know Your Risks, Know Your Zone, and be MdReady<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

HANOVER, MD (June 1, 2025) \u2014 <\/b>The 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1 through November 30, and the Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) urges Marylanders and visitors to the State to have their communication plans, evacuation plans, and disaster supply kits ready in the event of a tropical storm or hurricane impacting our State. Last year\u2019s hurricane season ranked as the third most expensive on record, largely due to its high activity and the occurrence of several Category 5 hurricanes.<\/p>\n

\u201cPreparedness cannot wait until a storm is approaching\u2014by then, the ability to make some critical decisions may already be out of your hands\u201d,\u00a0said MDEM Secretary Russ Strickland.\u00a0<\/b>\u201cNow is the time to make sure you and your loved ones are prepared. Tropical cyclones do not need to make landfall in Maryland to be dangerous. Their impacts can be felt inland for hundreds of miles, with the potential for tornadoes, prolonged power outages, and catastrophic flooding. I encourage local officials, community leaders, and the media to help share this message:\u00a0Know your risks,\u00a0<\/b>Know Your Zone<\/i><\/b>, and Be MdReady<\/b>.\u201d<\/p>\n

The National Weather Service is predicting another above-average hurricane season this year with 14 to 21 named storms expected, three to six of those being considered major hurricanes (category 3 or higher). Above-average sea temperatures and the continuing La Ni\u00f1a system are some of the contributing factors this year.<\/p>\n

Hurricanes<\/a>\u00a0and tropical storms pose many risks, including coastal storm surges, flash\u00a0flooding<\/a>, and\u00a0tornadoes<\/a>. Because large storms are unpredictable and can require rapid evacuations, it is essential to have an emergency plan in place, disaster supply kits ready, and to\u00a0\u00a0<\/i>Know Your Zone<\/i><\/b><\/a>.\u00a0Know Your Zone<\/b>\u00a0is an interactive WebApp that allows residents to enter their address and find out if they live in one of Maryland\u2019s designated coastal evacuation zones.<\/p>\n

These zones help local emergency officials issue evacuation orders more effectively in the event of storm surge or tidal flooding along the Chesapeake Bay, its tributaries, the coastal bay, and the ocean on the Eastern Shore.\u00a0While the\u00a0Know Your Zone<\/i><\/b>\u00a0system is designed for coastal evacuations,\u00a0inland areas are still at risk<\/b>. Flash flooding, falling trees, and other hazards can be life-threatening far from the shoreline, and evacuations may still be recommended or ordered in these areas depending on the storm. Knowing your risk and knowing your zone ahead of time allows for faster, safer, and more organized evacuations in high-risk coastal regions.<\/p>\n

Here are some additional considerations while planning for tropical storms and hurricanes (both of which are types of tropical cyclones):<\/p>\n