Hurricane Season is Here. Here’s What You Need to Know.

The hurricane season for 2026 began on June 1, marking the start of a six month period where residents and emergency responders will be watching for storms.

Following the thunderstorm season from April to June, hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 31. Local emergency responders often review weather data beforehand in order to stay aware of any and all incoming storms.

“Every storm is a little different,” said Treutlen County EMA Director Justin McNure. “I don’t think there’s any two storms that are the same. So, basically, what that means for us is we’re on our P’s and Q’s.”

The Treutlen County EMA checks the websites of organizations such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Mike’s Weather Page for information on upcoming storms, as they forecast weather events “long before The Weather Channel.”

According to the NOAA, the 2026 hurricane season is projected with a 55 percent chance to be a below normal season in terms of storm activity due to warmer Atlantic temperatures and the development of the El Niño weather pattern. Chances of a near normal and above normal season are 35 percent and 10 percent respectively.

The NOAA has also claimed a “70 percent confidence” in the predicted ranges.

“Although El Niño’s impact in the Atlantic Basin can often suppress hurricane development, there is still uncertainty in how each season will unfold,” said NOAA National Weather Service Director Ken Graham in a May 21 article by the administration. “That is why it’s essential to review your hurricane preparedness plan now. It only takes one storm to make for a very bad season.” 

The season is expected to generate eight to 14 named tropical storms, with three to six of those storms expected to develop further into hurricanes. Of those hurricanes, one to three are expected to become major hurricanes, meaning they will become category three, four or five hurricanes.

“That’s always good to hear, but as you know, it only takes one storm like Helene to really be detrimental for your community,” said McNure. “So, even though they’re estimating us to be below normal, it doesn’t mean we’re taking that lightly.”

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the Treutlen County EMA has adopted an altered strategy for resource deployment in the event of a storm. Rather than consolidating its resources in a single part of the county, they will instead scatter first responders throughout the county to better ensure responses to emergencies.

“We’re a small town, so manpower is always going to be an issue, but we have the best guys that anyone can ask for,” said McNure.

The EMA will also be assisted by a number of new equipment and vehicles purchased after Helene, such as a drone, a mobile command center and a boat. 

However, the monetary effects on the county are not something which can be alleviated by the EMA’s on-the-ground tactics, but rather something which must be handled in the aftermath through FEMA and GEMA/HS.

“It just helps us take care of our citizens, and at the end of the day, that’s why we’re here,” said McNure. “That’s what we do.”

For residents who want to prepare for a storm similar to Helene, McNure recommends keeping seven days worth of rations, water and non-perishable food which can be prepared without electricity, ready. Residents with generators should keep them outside, along with enough gasoline to fuel them.

Counties will also use various notification methods, including social media or mass notification platforms such as Treutlen County’s Regroup, to alert residents of an incoming storm up to a week in advance.

“As soon as they start posting it on the news, I start posting it on FaceBook,” said McNure.