Hurricane Season Is Coming — Are You Ready, St. Mary’s County?

LEONARDTOWN, Md. — With memories of past storms and the uncertainty of future ones looming, St. Mary’s County officials are urging residents to prepare now before hurricane season begins.

During the April 28 meeting of the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County, Mike Alderson presented a proclamation recognizing Hurricane Preparedness Week, observed May 3-9, 2026, emphasizing the importance of planning ahead in a region no stranger to severe weather.

“Well, good morning, everybody. I’m here to present hurricane preparedness week in 2026,” Alderson said. “You know, there’s been a real dry spring and winter and everything, and we’re in a pretty good drought situation, and if you’ve been here long enough, you know that we’re gonna get all the rain that we need at one time, and usually probably be in a form of tropical storm or a hurricane.”

The proclamation underscores that “the safety and well-being of our citizens are of paramount importance” and highlights the role of preparedness in reducing the impacts of hurricanes and other natural disasters. Officials noted that Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, when storms are most likely to form.

Alderson read that the week serves as “a crucial reminder for individuals, families, businesses and communities to prepare and plan for the upcoming hurricane season,” encouraging residents to review emergency plans, assemble disaster supply kits and stay informed.

Building A Culture Of Preparedness

Following the proclamation, local emergency management officials echoed the message, stressing that preparation is a year-round responsibility.

Jennifer Utz, director of Emergency Services, highlighted the county’s growing outreach efforts and increasing public engagement.

“The best way that we can prepare our community is really through education, outreach,” Utz said. “Two years, three years ago, we started the sandbag distribution event, and I think we had, like, a handful of people come out. Last year, we had people come out in droves — in the hundreds.”

Utz said the increase reflects stronger messaging and a community becoming more proactive.

“As we increase the messaging each year, we prepare our communities to help themselves and to help us in the first responder community,” she said. “So hurricanes are from June 1 to November 30, but they can hit us at any time, and we need to be prepared year-round.”

Community Event Set For May 30

As part of the county’s preparedness efforts, Emergency Services will host its annual Hurricane Preparedness and Sandbag Distribution Day on May 30 from 8 a.m. to noon at the St. Andrew’s Landfill, located at 44837 St. Andrews Church Road.

Residents will have the opportunity to meet emergency management personnel, gather supplies and learn how to better prepare their homes and families.

Quinn Teston, an emergency management specialist, added a lighthearted note while encouraging attendance.

“Yes, we do have some cool swag bags, so definitely come to Hurricane Preparedness Day on May 30,” Teston said.

Deputy Director Kiersten Shea and Emergency Manager Amy Bledsoe were also in attendance for the presentation.

Staying Informed

Officials encouraged residents to sign up for local emergency alerts and access preparedness resources through the county’s Emergency Services website.

“Through education, planning and proactive measures, we can enhance our resilience and ability to effectively respond to hurricanes and protect lives, property and county infrastructure,” the proclamation states.

As hurricane season approaches, county leaders say the message is simple: don’t wait until the storm is on the radar — prepare now.

Hurricane Preparedness Checklist

What St. Mary’s County residents should do now before storm season.

Learn more: www.stmaryscountymd.gov/em

You can watch the proclamation below at 23:57.

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