ETSU preps for start of hurricane season while reflecting on Helene
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — With the start of hurricane season only days away, East Tennessee State University is warning the Tri-Cities region to be prepared in case of another storm's arrival.
In September 2024, Hurricane Helene caused widespread devastation to the area despite the distance from the coast.
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Tennessee State Climatologist Andrew Joyner, a faculty member of the ETSU Department of Geosciences, urged the people of the Tri-Cities to stay on top of hurricane forecasts this season.
'We may not get direct hits from hurricanes like coastal areas do,' Joyner said in a news release. 'But the remnants of those storms can still bring serious impacts, especially when the season is active.'
The 2025 hurricane season is expected to be active, the release states. Hurricane season begins June 1 and runs through Nov. 30.
According to the forecasters at Colorado State University, a higher-than-average number of storms have been predicted for the 2025 hurricane season.
Joyner said the main threat to the Appalachian region is not the winds of the hurricanes, but the water.
'Flash flooding is our biggest concern,' Joyner said. 'With these systems, it's not uncommon to see significant rainfall spread hundreds of miles inland, and the narrow valleys and steep terrain of our region make us especially vulnerable.'
During Helene, streamflow at Embreeville reached more than 80,000 cubic feet. ETSU noted that streamflow is more than 130 times the average.
Helene triggered flooding that left numerous dead and historic destruction that several communities are still recovering from.
'It's a generational event, and one we'll be studying for years,' Joyner said of Helene. 'These types of storms have impacted Appalachia before, but may become more frequent and more intense, and we need to plan accordingly.'
The Tennessee Climate Office, which is housed at ETSU, is working to develop emergency mitigation strategies and public policy in preparation for future storms.
Joyner urged people in the area to pay close attention to forecasts and create their own plan in the event of another disaster like Helene.
'Remember that even if we're not in a coastal zone, hurricanes can still hit home in ways that matter,' Joyner said.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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