New Bedford 2025 Hurricane Plan Released

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell unveiled the city’s 2025 hurricane plan this morning, and placed an extra emphasis on residents of the South End peninsula and on Padanaram Avenue having a personal evacuation plan in case a major storm hits the SouthCoast.

“It might be next month. It might be next year or five years from now. It’s not a matter of if, but when, New Bedford gets hit with its next hurricane,” Mayor Mitchell said. “Living on the ocean where we do, it’s critical that residents, especially those on the peninsula and on Padanaram Avenue, have a plan in place for when it happens.”

Why a Hurricane Plan Is Essential for New Bedford

As part of New Bedford Hurricane Preparedness Day, Mitchell released the City’s 2025 Hurricane Plan, developed over the last year by the Emergency Management Department, which “addresses the roles and responsibilities of other City departments, cooperating government agencies, volunteers, and others who may be involved in the response,” according to a City release.

“Just as residents should be prepared in case of a hurricane, the City has been preparing for how to respond to extreme weather for a while now,” Emergency Management Director Brian Nobrega said. “Every department, from police and fire to DPI, finance and others have a part to play, and mapping out this team approach on paper in this plan gives us the blueprint to follow.”

How to Build an Emergency Evacuation Plan

The City also said that New Bedford residents, especially those living in the South End, should have a personal evacuation plan, with the following recommendations:

Make a family emergency plan. Think about where you will go, how you will get there, and what you will bring. Make sure the plan includes provisions for managing children, seniors and family members with disabilities or medical issues.
Think about your pets: Pack extra food and/or supplies for them. Note that the City’s designated emergency shelter, Keith Middle School, is a pet-friendly shelter. More information is located in the 2025 Hurricane Plan.
Assemble an emergency kit: Recommended items include blankets or sleeping bags, pillows, flashlights, special dietary foods, medications for 3-5 days, eyeglasses, change of clothing for 3-5 days, and toiletries.
Communicate. Tell your family and friends where you’re going. Follow the City’s website, social media, and the local news for safety updates.
Please remember: Do not return to the evacuation area until the evacuation order is lifted.

25 costliest hurricanes of all time

Although the full extent of damage caused by Hurricane Ian in the Southwest is still being realized, Ian is already being called one of the costliest storms to ever hit the U.S. Stacker took a look at NOAA data to extrapolate the costliest U.S. hurricanes of all time.

LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades

Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.

Gallery Credit: KATELYN LEBOFF

Source: How New Bedford Is Prepping for the Next Big Hurricane