TL;DR: Delaware proclaimed May 18-22, 2026 as Hurricane Preparedness Week to push households to make a plan, build a 5-7-day kit, and sign up for alerts before the June 1-November 30 season.

Delaware calls for pre-season action

In Smyrna, Delaware, Governor Matt Meyer proclaimed May 18 to May 22 as Hurricane Preparedness Week ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season running June 1 to November 30, 2026, according to the State of Delaware News article titled "Hurricane Preparedness Week Promotes Pre-Season Preparation - State of Delaware News."

The Delaware Emergency Management Agency, working with state, county and local agencies, is urging residents to help communities mitigate threats posed by hurricanes and other tropical storms.

The message from DEMA is to act today to be better prepared for tomorrow. Residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make an active hurricane season, and that appropriate measures to mitigate risk can significantly reduce damage and help save lives.

DEMA Director A.J. Schall said:

"The time to prepare against storm-related damage is before hurricane season begins."

Schall pointed to PrepareDe.org as a resource to assist in planning for all possibilities.

Why Delaware faces elevated household risk

Delaware is described by DEMA as the lowest-lying state in the country, where hurricane conditions are particularly dangerous.

The listed hazards include storm surge, flooding, gale-force winds, beach erosion, and mass power outages. Those impacts affect coastal regions and also create high-risk areas for public safety, businesses, and homes in other areas throughout Delaware.

The preparedness push stresses understanding risk, beginning pre-season preparations now, and ensuring households have multiple ways of receiving weather forecasts and alerts. DEMA also stresses understanding what to do before, during, and after a storm to maximize safety for individuals and the rest of the community.

Millville Council Member Debora Sosnoski, a retired firefighter, said she was alarmed after moving to coastal Delaware several years ago by the damage and travel issues that can come from coastal storms, according to the Coastal Point article titled "Town of Millville to sponsor Disaster Preparedness Seminar."

Sosnoski cited a similar preparedness event she attended at the South Coastal Library that opened her eyes to the many issues coastal weather can bring. She said she has since organized a similar seminar for Millville By the Sea and is happy to now bring it to all Millville residents.

Season outlook does not change the household task

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season will produce below-average activity.

The 2025 season fell within the predicted ranges for named storms and hurricanes despite periods of relative calm and bursts of intense activity.

Colorado State University has predicted 13 named storms, six hurricanes, and two major hurricanes of category three or higher for 2026, which is lower than the 30-year average for hurricanes and storms.

Emergency officials stress that residents should still take preparedness seriously regardless of seasonal predictions, according to TV Delmarva Channel 33 reporting titled "Delaware Declares Hurricane Preparedness Week Ahead of 2026 Season."

The first few potential hurricane names listed for the 2026 season include Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, Eduard, Fay and Gonzalo, according to Coastal Point.

For the 2026 monitoring cycle, the National Hurricane Center in Miami began its regular Atlantic basin weather assessments on Friday, May 15, according to TV Delmarva Channel 33 reporting titled "Hurricane Season Begins: No Tropical Activity Expected in Next Week." No tropical storm or hurricane formation was anticipated during the upcoming seven-day period across the North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of America regions.

Make a family plan before June 1

DEMA's "Make a Plan" guidance starts with knowing location-based risk. Residents are directed to find an evacuation zone at Know Your Zone and to check flood risk with the Flood Planning Tool.

Flood insurance is a central planning item. Most homeowner policies do not cover flooding, and a policy can take up to 30 days to go into effect. DEMA points households to Floodsmart.gov for more information.

Hurricane housekeeping means decluttering drains and gutters, inspecting and trimming trees and dead limbs, and securing loose items.

Fuel readiness is specific: ensure the gas tank is at least half full in the event of an emergency evacuation, so a household has enough fuel to leave safely without relying on crowded gas stations.

Family communications plans should be created, reviewed, and updated. Plans should cover emergency meeting locations, contact information, exit routes, and out-of-state contacts in the event of separation. DEMA advises including children in the plan and helping them practice it, and points to Prepare with Pedro at ready.gov.

Households with seniors and those with special needs are directed to the DHSS Office of Preparedness and its Preparedness Buddy program. The University of Delaware has additional resources at allreadyde.org.

For pets, DEMA points to the Office of Animal Welfare and the Delaware Animal Response Program.

Build a 5- to 7-day kit for each person

DEMA recommends that an emergency kit should contain enough supplies to last for 5-7 days, including a first aid kit, flashlights, radios, matches in a waterproof container, and batteries.

Households should have a kit for each family member. Food and health supplies include non-perishable food, water, medications, infant formula, and diapers for small children.

Pet supplies include extra food and water, carriers, pet medications, and other items they may need.

Cash planning is direct: keep a small amount of cash in the event that ATMs are not working.

Power backup planning includes considering a generator or other backup. DEMA states to only use a generator outdoors and away from windows.

For communications power, households should have a cell phone power bank or portable car charger and charge phones beforehand.

DEMA also advises checking on neighbors to ensure they are safe, prepared and have necessary supplies, and considering a neighborhood "Preparedness Buddy" system for assistance in emergency incidents.

For recovery, households should review insurance coverage and document property with photographs in case of an insurance claim, which can assist with accelerating the claims process. Households should make secure digital copies of all documents and keep original documents in a safe, waterproof container in case of power and communication outages.

Stay informed through DENS and local broadcasts

Households are urged to sign up for emergency alerts through the Delaware Emergency Notification System, known as DENS. If an evacuation notice is issued, it will be sent by text, phone call, email, and social media.

DEMA also advises understanding the difference between a Hurricane Watch versus a Hurricane.

For federal mobile alerts, residents can sign up at ready.gov to receive the FEMA app and National Weather Service alerts for up to three locations.

Residents should tune in to local TV or radio to learn about storms and potential evacuations for a specific zone.

The National Hurricane Center's tropical weather assessments are available daily through November 30, with visual versions online at hurricanes.gov. Reports are released four times daily at 2 AM, 8 AM, 2 PM, and 8 PM Eastern Daylight Time. When daylight saving time ends in November, the schedule shifts to 1 AM, 7 AM, 1 PM, and 7 PM Eastern Standard Time, with emergency updates distributed between regular reporting times when weather conditions warrant additional alerts.

Millville offers in-person help on May 20

The Town of Millville is sponsoring a Disaster Preparedness Seminar at the Evans Park Community Building from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, according to Coastal Point.

The Evans Park Community Center is located at 32517 Dukes Drive, Millville. Town officials report 200 seats available for the event.

Scheduled speakers include Tim Cooper, director of the Sussex County Department of Emergency Management; Danielle Swallow, coastal hazards specialist from Delaware Sea Grant; and Pat Heineman, emergency planning specialist with the University of Delaware Center for Disabilities Studies.

Topics to be covered include basic emergency preparedness, preparing for weather-related disasters, preparing a "go bag," creating an emergency care plan document, and steps to strengthen preparedness and community resilience.

Town officials are urging residents to attend so they can learn how to stay safe during emergencies and how to prepare themselves and their property. The event also gives residents access to experts, plus resources, tips and tools they can take home.

To sign up, residents are directed to the posted SignupGenius page. For more information, the listed contact is Julie Bradford at (302) 539-0449.

What DEMA coordinates

DEMA is the lead state agency for coordination of comprehensive emergency preparedness, training, response, recovery, and mitigation services to save lives, protect Delaware's economic base, and reduce the impact of emergencies.

DEMA is a division within the Department of Safety and Homeland Security and is authorized by the Delaware Code.

Sources referenced