2024 Hurricane Season, Extending Lessons to New Frontiers

As the Atlantic hurricane season concludes each November, disaster specialists traditionally reflect on lessons learned and opportunities to improve preparedness, logistics, and mitigation efforts for the next season. The 2024 season, however, presented new challenges, highlighting the need to adapt tried-and-true strategies for communities unaccustomed to hurricane impacts.

This year brought devastation to inland areas typically considered immune to hurricane destruction, underscoring the increasing unpredictability of climate change. A warmer climate has intensified storm systems, making events like these more common and necessitating immediate actions to implement familiar lessons in unfamiliar places.

The 2024 season, which ran from June 1 to November 30, saw 18 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and 5 major hurricanes, including multiple Category 5 storms – the first such occurrence since 2019. According to Climate Central, climate change strengthened all hurricanes this season, with wind speeds increasing by 9 to 28 mph due to warmer ocean waters. These stronger storms led to catastrophic flooding and high winds in inland regions like Florida, Georgia, western North Carolina, and eastern Tennessee, resulting in over 150 fatalities – among the highest in decades – among the worst in decades.

Many inland communities lacked the experience and resources to handle the magnitude of these storms. To build resilience, public communications about personal preparedness must become a priority. Severe flooding left isolated communities without power, water, or food for days – scenarios for which coastal residents are more prepared. Government agencies and private organizations must launch coordinated campaigns to educate inland residents on emergency plans, evacuation routes, essential supplies, and storm monitoring. Understanding these basics will save lives and mitigate damage during future hurricane seasons.

In non-traditional hurricane zones, sheltering systems often lack the capacity for sudden, large-scale evacuations. States must establish contracts to ensure rapid deployment of sheltering resources when disaster strikes. Non-congregate shelters, such as hotels or rental properties, can provide a safer alternative to crowded facilities. Vulnerable populations – including families, seniors, and those with disabilities – benefit from the privacy and accessibility these options offer. Incorporating travel trailers or mobile homes into disaster response plans creates flexible, immediate housing solutions for prolonged displacement.

Proper mitigation planning is another key takeaway from this year. Communities unaccustomed to hurricanes often lack the infrastructure and knowledge to cope with such events. State governments must include these regions in vulnerability assessments and allocate resources to strengthen infrastructure, update building codes, and implement flood control measures. Federal programs, such as FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) initiative, provide crucial funding for resilience projects. Inland areas must actively participate in these programs to enhance disaster preparedness and reduce long-term risks.

The 2024 hurricane season revealed the reach of these storms now extends far beyond coastal areas. Disaster management professionals, government agencies, and businesses must work together to adapt established strategies for inland communities facing hurricanes for the first time. By expanding preparedness, improving sheltering systems, and investing in mitigation, we can help all communities build resilience before the next storm arrives.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bill Slater

Bill Slater is the chief operating officer for the consulting services business unit at Tidal Basin Group. He started his emergency management career as a police officer and firefighter, serving at the “Ground Zero” command post following 9/11. He was also a member of the initial cadre of New York State’s Type II All-Hazards Incident Management Team. Slater has also worked as a project management lead for New York, Hawaii, Alaska, and numerous local municipalities.