PAHO calls on countries to prepare health systems amid forecasts of a very active 2025 hurricane season – PAHO/WHO

Washington, DC, June 2, 2025 (PAHO) – With the Hurricane season of the Atlantic 2025 in progress, which takes place from June 1 to November 30, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) urges countries to review contingency plans and activate preventive measures to prepare health systems for possible hurricanes, storms, floods and other extreme climate events. The call follows a forecast of the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration of the United States (NOAA), which predicts the activity of hurricanes «above normal» for this season.

«Extreme hydrometeorological events, such as hurricanes, torrential rains and flooding and land landslides, are a constant threat to the region, which causes injuries, loss of lives and overwhelming medical care systems,» said Leonardo Hernandez, head of the Paho Emergency Operations Unit. «Acting preventive measures to protect people and medical care infrastructure before an extreme climate event is crucial to reduce its impact, particularly on the health of vulnerable communities,» he added.

Beyond the physical impact and infrastructure damage that often interrupts the access and availability of essential services, the health consequences of extreme climatic events also include greater risks of diseases transmitted by water, such as diarrhea or cholera, vector diseases, such as dengue and chikungunya, and respiratory diseases, among others.

2025 hurricane season

The NOAA perspective for the 2025 Atlantic Hurricanes season predicts a 60% probability of a season higher than normal, with a range of 13-19 storms with name (winds of 39 miles per hour (MPH) or more). Of these, 6-10 are forecast to become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or more), including 3–5 main hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5, with winds of 111 mph or more).

The 2024 hurricanes season was already very destructive and caused some of the greatest registered economic losses. It included 18 storms with name, including seven tropical storms and 11 hurricanes, five of which were important. The season saw several category 5 hurricanes, including Hurricane Beryl, which formed in June and became the first category 5 storm ever registered.

To help the countries of the Americas to prepare for the next hurricane season, Paho is celebrating a virtual preparation meeting on June 10, which will provide an opportunity for representatives of the Ministries of Health and Civil Protection agencies to exchange experiences with experts in response to disasters and public health in emergencies.

Paho also continues to work with countries to ensure that national emergency response plans are updated and to strengthen intersectoral coordination mechanisms at national and local level to provide a timely and effective response in line with future emergency alerts.