Berkeley County proclaims May 2025 as Hurricane Preparedness Month

Berkeley County Council adopted a proclamation designating May 2025 as Hurricane Preparedness Month during the Committee on Justice and Public Safety meeting on May 27, 2025.

The proclamation, presented by committee leadership, notes the Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through Nov. 30 and cites recent local impacts from Tropical Storm Debbie and Hurricane Helene. It urges residents to learn whether they live in an evacuation zone, know evacuation routes, prepare a home disaster plan and build an emergency kit.

Why it matters: County officials said the past two seasons have been unusually active and the proclamation is intended to raise public awareness and encourage household preparedness before the 2025 season begins. The county emergency management office said outreach and community coordination during last year’s storms highlighted gaps residents should address before the next season.

County officials at the meeting emphasized that preparation includes both household planning and maintaining awareness of official evacuation maps and routes. An emergency management staff member, speaking after the proclamation was read, said the county’s work with residents during recent damage assessments showed priorities for future outreach and preparedness efforts and added, “We really hope to not have to do that this year. We wanna take a good year off.”

The proclamation was adopted without recorded opposition and was read into the record at the committee meeting; it directs county staff to continue public education and emergency management activities ahead of hurricane season.

County residents may contact the Berkeley County Emergency Management Department for guidance on evacuation zones and to request preparedness materials.