The City of St. Petersburg is gearing up for the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which starts on June 1. Mayor Kenneth T. Welch, along with City Council Chair Copley Gerdes and other city leaders, gathered at the Northeast Water Reclamation Facility to discuss improvements made to the city’s water reclamation facilities and updates on disaster preparedness efforts.
Mayor Welch emphasized the importance of resiliency and proactive measures. “The City of St. Petersburg is diligently preparing for the upcoming hurricane season by prioritizing resiliency, accelerating our infrastructure projects, and implementing lessons learned from last year’s hurricane season,” he stated. He urged residents to start making their storm plans now.
City Council Chair Copley Gerdes highlighted the administration’s proactive stance. “Every hurricane season brings with it the chance for forces beyond our control to test the very fabric of St. Petersburg. Fortunately, this administration isn’t waiting to react – they’re acting now,” he said.
Amber Boulding, City Emergency Management Manager, reflected on last year’s record-breaking impacts from Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton. She stressed personal preparedness: “Each of your personal lessons learned underscore the vital importance of proactive preparation.”
Following last year’s storms, the city expedited several water reclamation facility projects as part of its disaster readiness strategy under the St. Pete Agile Resilience Plan (SPAR). This plan focuses on strengthening critical utility facilities against storm surge and advancing flood mitigation projects citywide with an anticipated $545 million investment over five years.
The city’s preparations include cross-training staff, pre-staging resources, and setting up recovery centers across St. Petersburg. Residents are encouraged to prepare ahead of time using resources available at www.stpete.org/Hurricane.
