Last week, the Chatham Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) held its 23rd Annual Hurricane Conference. Almost 400 people attended the event to share what they have learned, talk about past experiences, and explore better ways to help their communities during hurricanes and other disasters.
CEMA Director Dennis Jones said the event is a great way for emergency response partners to come together. “The conference gives their partners a chance to come together to recap last year’s storms and be a voice in future planning for Chatham County’s response to natural disasters,” he said.
One of the speakers was Ron Morales, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Charleston. “We had a pretty big season last year,” Morales said, as he talked about the 2024 hurricanes. He also explained how the National Weather Service uses tools to forecast.
Another important topic covered at the conference was the Hurricane Registry. “The Registry is for residents that have functional or medical need that require help to evacuate during a storm,” Dr. Chris Rustin of the Chatham County Health Department explained. To learn more about the Hurricane Registry and who qualifies, visit: Hurricane Registry
During the conference, attendees joined classes on different topics such as quick disaster response, using technology like GIS during emergencies, planning evacuations, and reviewing lessons from last year’s storm season.
All of these sessions help local officials get ready to serve the community better when disaster strikes.Top of Form
HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR HURRICANE SEASON?
June 1st will mark the official beginning to the Hurricane Season for 2025 and it is expected to be another active season.
What can you do to be prepared?
- Restock or create your emergency kit
- Get all your important documents together
- Develop your family communication plan
- Review the evacuation plans
For additional resources to prepare for hurricane season visit ChathamEmergency.org