2025 Hurricane Season Guide: Mastering Storm Forecast & Preparedness

Posted by The News Pulse May 28, 2025 Post a Comment

The hurricane season begins on June 1st, so it’s advisable to start preparing as soon as possible.

One important thing to do first is sign up for Reverse Alert emergency notifications.

Corpus Christi and Nueces County collaborated to introduce an emergency notification system for residents. This initiative enables authorities to inform the populace about possible safety risks via phone calls or text messages.

The Caller-Times compiled its annual guide covering all aspects of preparation, the upcoming forecast, and essential information for the weeks ahead.

What does the prediction look like for 2025?

The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration declared on May 22 that the Atlantic hurricane season of 2025 would likely be higher than average.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts between 13 and 19 tropical storms will be designated this year, with expectations of six to ten hurricanes developing, including three to five intense ones over the Atlantic Ocean. Last year, a total of 18 storms were recorded.

NOAA indicates a 70% certainty within these estimated ranges. to a news release .

This season is anticipated to surpass typical levels because of several contributing elements such as persistent neutral El Niño/Southern Oscillation conditions, elevated sea surface temperatures, predictions indicating minimal wind shear, along with the possibility of increased action stemming from the West African Monsoon—a key originator of Atlantic hurricanes.

During this hurricane season, there is a possibility of the West African monsoon moving further northwards, leading to tropical waves that can generate some of the strongest and longest-lasting Atlantic storms.

What titles are assigned to potential tropical storms?

Since 1953, tropical storms in the Atlantic have been designated using lists created by the National Hurricane Center. For the 2025 hurricane season, the selected names will be:

Andrea
Barry
Chantal
Dexter
Erin
Fernand
Gabrielle
Humberto
Imelda
Jerry
Karen
Lorenzo
Melissa
Nestor
Olga
Pablo
Rebekah
Sebastien
Tanya
Van
Wendy

What steps should I take to get ready?

Plan for any possible situations in advance.

Some important questions to ask yourself and family are: How will we get to a safe place? How will we contact each other? What if our plan has to adapt to a sudden change?

If feasible, designate an out-of-state relative or friend as a "family contact" and instruct your family members to reach out to this person in the event they get separated.

Ensure that every member of your family understands how and when to shut off the gas, electricity, and water supplies. Additionally, teach them when and how to contact 911 and identify which local radio and television channels they should monitor during emergencies.

Preparing your home:

Cut back trees and bushes, and install new fencing where needed.
Check your rooftop for any missing or loose shingles and make sure to clean out blocked rain gutters.
Strengthen garage doors and double entrance doors using robust foot and header bolts.
Set up hurricane shutters and check the condition of current shutters, if feasible.
Keep your lawn furniture and other small, light items stored away.
Inspect mobile home tie-downs for signs of rust and damage. Residents of mobile homes must leave when instructed.

Packing your emergency kit:

A rechargeable mobile TV or radio along with additional batteries.
A torch along with additional power cells.
A minimum of a week’s worth of non-perishable food and water should be kept. It's advised to have one gallon of water per person each day.
Cooking tools, kitchen gadgets, and a hand-operated can opener.
A basic medical kit along with an instruction handbook.
A whistle along with a white distress signal flag.
Formula, infant nutrition, nappies, and soothers.
Items for sanitation and cleanliness such as quick-drying hand sanitizer gel, wet wipes, bathroom tissue, and sanitary napkins.
Prescribed drugs, spectacles, contact lens cleaner, and hearing aid batteries.
Extra clothing, blankets and sleeping bags.
Waterproof case for matches.
A phone car charger.
A map displaying both county roads and highways.
A flat-fix kit, jumper cables, an air compressor, and road flares.
Cash, since certain enterprises might not accept credit or debit card payments during or following the storm.
Copies of ID, insurance policies, prescription information, an inventory list for your home, credit card details, crucial paperwork such as birth/marriage certificates and vehicle titles, along with your most recent utility statement.

What actions should I take when a hurricane watch or warning is issued?

If you're under a hurricane watch, indicating that conditions are anticipated within the next 48 hours, follow these steps:

Tune into a battery-powered radio or TV to stay updated with hurricane developments.
Examine the contents of your emergency kit and include anything you might be missing.
Enroll individuals in your family or under your care who have special needs into the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry. This free service offers local emergency planners and responders more details about the requirements within their area. To sign up, go to the registry’s website. tdem.texas.gov/response/state-of-texas-emergency-assistance-registry .
Ensure your car is filled up with gasoline.
Introduce outdoor items such as patio chairs, playthings, and gardening implements, and secure those things that can’t be moved indoors.
Lock down structures by shutting and securing all windows with boards. Take away exterior antennas.
Adjust the refrigerator and freezer to their lowest temperature settings. Only open them when completely unavoidable and make sure to shut them promptly.
Keep potable water in sanitized bathtubs, jugs, and bottles.
Review evacuation plan.
Tether the boat firmly or relocate it to a specified safe area. Fasten the vessel to the trailer with either a rope or a chain. Utilize tie-downs to secure the trailer to the ground or to the house.

A hurricane warning indicates that conditions will likely arrive within 36 hours, so take these steps:

Always tune into a battery-powered radio or TV continuously for official guidance.
In a mobile home, inspect the tie-downs and leave right away.
Keep valuable items and important documents in a watertight receptacle placed at the topmost part of your house.
Avoid elevators.

What steps should I take for planning an evacuation?

The city of Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority and Corpus Christi Independent School District partner annually to provide a system to help people get safely out of the path of a possible incoming hurricane.

People should head to the nearest RTA bus stop and you will be taken (free of charge) to a hub for processing. By way of a CCISD bus, you will be transported out of town and out of harm's way. For more information, contact the Office of Emergency Management at 361-826-1100.

To secure your residence, disconnect all devices from their power sources and switch off both the electrical supply and the primary water valve. Shut down propane tanks, clear out the fridge and freezer, lock up your house, and bring along all your animals.

Be sure to inform someone outside of the storm where you are going in case of an emergency.

What are some other escape paths?

Considering an evacuation on your own? Make sure you know your escape route and have arrangements set for accommodation at your final location. Depart promptly, steer clear of inundated roadways, and be cautious of anybridges that may have been compromised.

Starting from downtown Corpus Christi, take U.S. 181 north toward San Antonio.
Starting from downtown Corpus Christi, take U.S. 181 north until you reach State Highway 123 in Karnes City.
Starting from downtown Corpus Christi, proceed on State Highway 35 towards Gregory, then turn left onto FM 136 via Bayside until you reach FM 2678 leading to U.S. 183; continue northward toward Austin.
Starting from Corpus Christi, head west on FM 624 via Calallen and Orange Grove until you reach State Highway 16; continue north on this highway to get to San Antonio.
Drive along Padre Island Road to State Highway 44 heading west via Robstown, proceed through Alice, make your way to Freer, then continue onto U.S. 59 towards Laredo.

Is hurricane insurance necessary for my home?

In the midst of a hurricane, flooding becomes quite probable.

Talk to your insurance agent, or look online for one, to get a flood, windstorm and hurricane policy. Be sure to act quickly because there's a 30-day waiting period before it's active.

Once a named storm enters the Gulf of Mexico (renamed by the U.S. government as Gulf of America), most insurance companies enact a moratorium — a temporary suspension — and stop selling new policies or making changes to existing ones.

Ensure you have all-encompassing auto insurance that covers harm to your vehicle caused by floods, hail, fires, and winds.

What should I do if I prefer staying at home instead of evacuating?

Some people might choose to leave if a hurricane approaches, whereas others could decide to remain and face the tempest head-on.

People who stay should follow the directions given by local authorities and depart right away if instructed to do so.

Should you decide to remain, seek shelter in an internal chamber, pantry, or passage located on the ground floor within the structure throughout the tempest. Maximize protection by positioning numerous barriers between yourself and the exterior sections. Ensure you keep clear of openings such as windows, roof lights, and sliding glass entries.

If the eye of the storm passes over your area, there will be a short period of calm, but as soon as the eye passes, the wind speed will rapidly increase to hurricane-force winds coming from the opposite direction. Be sure to stay sheltered until the storm has fully passed if you don’t evacuate.

What do I do after a storm?

Stay tuned to local radio, television and online news sources for information.

If possible, assist individuals who are hurt or caught. Should they sustain severe injuries, avoid moving them unless their safety is at imminent risk due to potential additional harm. Provide basic medical care when suitable and summon assistance.

After authorities instruct residents to come back home, comply with their guidance. Steer clear of any hanging or exposed electrical wires and notify the electric utility provider, as well as local law enforcement or firefighters, about such hazards right away.

Upon returning to your house, enter carefully since snakes, bugs, and wildlife might have taken refuge indoors due to flooding. To air out and dehumidify your dwelling after a flood, open all windows and doors. Inspect your fridge for signs of spoiling food; throw away anything that has gone bad.

In case of damage, capture photographs for insurance purposes.

If you need to drive anywhere, only do if necessary. Avoid flooded roads and washed-out bridges.

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John Oliva reports on entertainment and local happenings in South Texas. Got a tip or an idea for a story? Reach out to him via email: john.oliva@caller.com .

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The article initially appeared on the Corpus Christi Caller Times. 2025 Hurricane Season: A Guide for Storm Predictions, Preparedness, and More