BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. – Berkeley County officials are helping residents gear up for the 2025 hurricane season with the release of its latest hurricane guide, now available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
The guide, which coincides with the start of Hurricane Preparedness Month in South Carolina, offers crucial information on storm risks, evacuation routes, emergency contacts, and preparedness tips.
It was put together by the county’s Emergency Management Department in collaboration with the public information office.
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Digital versions of the hurricane guide can already be accessed online, while printed copies will hit shelves by June 1.
Residents can pick them up at the front lobby of the Berkeley County Administration Building in Moncks Corner or at any county library branch.
Last month, researchers at Colorado State University predicted the 2025 hurricane season will be busier than an average year.
According to the report, there’s a 51% chance that at least one major hurricane will make landfall along the U.S. coastline this year — 8 percentage points higher than the historical average of 43% from 1880 to 2020. The odds of a major storm hitting the U.S. East Coast specifically are 26%, up from the long-term average of 21%.
The report for the 2025 hurricane season also projects an estimated 17 named storms (compared to the average of 14.4), 85 named storm days (average: 69.4), 9 hurricanes (average: 7.2), and 35 hurricane days (average: 27.0). It also forecasts 4 major hurricanes — Category 3 or higher — and 9 major hurricane days, both above their historical averages of 3.2 and 7.4, respectively.
“Coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season for them. Thorough preparations should be made for every season, regardless of how much activity is predicted,” researchers warned.
In late September 2024, Hurricane Helene resulted in a major disaster declaration for more than half of South Carolina, allowing FEMA to come in and offer federal assistance to eligible households. As of May 1, the agency has approved approximately $303 million in disaster relief for more than 248,000 households.
The agency also approved public assistance for Berkeley County, making it eligible for assistance for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities.
