Jefferson Parish StormPrep 2025 event prepares residents for hurricane season

JEFFERSON PARISH, La. (WGNO) — The 2025 hurricane season officially begins on Sunday, June 1, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says you need to be prepared.

Jefferson Parish is no stranger to hurricane season, with many residents experiencing the devastation that can follow a storm.

“We know we live in a vulnerable zone for hurricanes, and this really is a time of the year where everybody needs to start having discussions on your own family prep,” said Parish President Cythnia Lee Sheng.

Forty local vendors came together to offer Jefferson Parish residents the opportunity to learn about the options available when a hurricane threatened the area.

Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans CEO Dan Mills understands the pain and anguish people can go through when a storm comes through.

He says small actions like trimming the branches away from your home or clearing storm drains can make a big difference.

“Clear the storm drains. Always check those window openings and try to protect them. One thing we see a lot is the wind exposure on a garage door is vast, and if that garage door caves in, it can pressurize the home and cause a lot of damage,” said Mills.

Sheng points out that every Category 5 storm formed in the United States was a tropical storm, or weaker, three days before.

She emphasizes the importance of having an evacuation plan ready.

“We live in a very highly, you know, dense area. When we call for an emergency evacuation, everybody needs to leave. So it’s critical that the planning happens beforehand so we can execute an evacuation order as smoothly as possible,” said Sheng.

Water, food, prescriptions, flashlights and batteries are just a few necessities residents should have on hand.

The owner of Craig’s Electrical and Generator Service, Craig Jacomine, tells WGNO the worst mistake is waiting until hurricane season to check your generator

“Start it up once a month. That’s the best way to do it. But we’ve had people that the day before hurricanes wanted to bring portable generators in for repairs. And unfortunately, we’re in hurricane mode and we have a different set of standards that we have to follow to make sure our customers are properly taken care of,” said Jacomine.

Officials say home insurance is another critical necessity as hurricane season begins

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