As hurricane season nears, Savannah leaders call for stronger preparedness

As hurricane season nears, Savannah leaders call for stronger preparedness

Savannah leaders are urging stronger storm preparedness and energy resilience as hurricane season begins and federal weather funding faces cuts

Updated: 9:29 AM EDT May 28, 2026

Grace Rodriguez

Multimedia Journalist

SAVANNAH, Ga. —

City of Savannah leaders are warning that the city needs stronger storm preparedness and more resilient energy systems after federal funding cuts.

With hurricane season starting June 1, community leaders and climate advocates gathered along the Savannah River to call for more investment in preparedness, including solar power, battery storage and grid upgrades.

"We've seen 50-year rainfall events compressed into a single decade, with 6 to 8 inches of rain falling in just a few hours," Beverlee Trotter, founder of Savannah Youth City, said.

Some argued that officials should focus on the bigger picture and address why hurricanes and other extreme weather events have grown stronger.

"We want to be calling on public officials at all levels of government to be thinking of a bigger picture and addressing why hurricanes and other types of extreme weather are becoming stronger," Chris Carnevale of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy said. "When we transition from polluting fuels like coal and methane gas to clean energy, that's pollution that's not going in the air that our kids aren't breathing."

Leaders also shared concerns over federal cuts to agencies like NOAA and the National Weather Service. They say for a coastal city like Savannah, accurate forecasts and timely alerts are critical.

"We have that responsibility not only in law enforcement sense, but also in the weather, weatherization, meteorological sense as well. We have to be able to keep people safe," Mayor Van Johnson said.

Leaders also pointed to the fact that Savannah has gone more than a century without a direct hurricane hit.

"The biggest concern is that we've been in such a sweet spot for such a long time. The last time that we had a direct hit from a hurricane was before they were named," Alderman Nick Palumbo said.

Fifteen- and sixteen-year-old Jaeda and Howie Trotter host a podcast called GenNext Teens. They say young people are learning to adapt to severe weather instead of ignoring it.

"We can't control the storm, but we can decide how we prepare and prepare ourselves for when it comes," the teens said. "What happens when young people are trying instead of ignored? We learn how to respond instead of panic."

Officials said now is the time to review hurricane preparedness plans before the season begins.