Trump Declares National Hurricane Preparedness Week Amid Active Season Warning

President Donald Trump has officially proclaimed May 4–10, 2025, as National Hurricane Preparedness Week, urging Americans—especially those in coastal and hurricane-prone areas—to develop evacuation plans and stockpile essential supplies ahead of an anticipated active hurricane season. This year’s preparedness week is particularly significant as it marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina’s devastation, and experts forecast above-average Atlantic storm activity, with 17 named storms and four major hurricanes predicted. Trump’s proclamation emphasizes the importance of community resilience and highlights recent catastrophic storms, while promoting stronger roles for state and local authorities in disaster response. However, critics have raised concerns that Trump’s administration has reduced disaster preparedness by cutting staff at key agencies like NOAA and eliminating federal door-to-door outreach programs that support vulnerable disaster survivors. Emergency officials in states like Louisiana echo the urgency for preparedness and note increased reliance on local resources amid federal staffing reductions. Lawmakers and weather experts warn that these cuts to forecasting and relief programs could put more lives at risk during severe weather events.