2025 Hurricane Season Preparedness Event

Background

For the past five consecutive years, OCHA has convened the Hurricane Season Preparedness Event (HSPE), an online initiative aimed at enhancing emergency response preparedness amid the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June to November each year. The initiative seeks to strengthen the readiness of humanitarian and development actors in the Caribbean to respond to the recurring threat of Atlantic hurricanes. 

The event is organized under the framework of the Regional Group on Risks, Emergencies and Disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean (REDLAC). Established in 2003, REDLAC serves as a regional coordination mechanism to promote joint analysis and understanding of humanitarian crises, fostering dialogue among humanitarian organizations and improving coordination, preparedness, and response.

This year, the event will feature a more comprehensive and inclusive format, combining virtual sessions with in-person clinics on specific topics to foster greater interaction and engagement. Sessions will include lessons learned and experience-sharing from past hurricane responses in the Caribbean, creating space for discussion and continuous learning to strengthen emergency preparedness and response.

Objectives

The objectives of the event are:

• Strengthen regional emergency preparedness of humanitarian and development actors and national counterparts amid the start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season.
• Facilitate knowledge exchange, best practices, experience-sharing and innovations among regional humanitarian actors involved in emergency response preparedness and risk monitoring.
• Promote collaboration and continuous learning opportunities between humanitarian organizations.

Target Audience

The target audience for the online seminars encompasses a diverse array of stakeholders engaged in humanitarian action, including representatives from United Nations (UN) agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), donor community and humanitarian practitioners operating at local, national, and regional levels in LAC.

Format and Methodology

The HSPE 2025 will take place in hybrid format from 20 to 22 May, distributed in morning and afternoon sessions. Online sessions will last approximately 90 minutes depending on the topic. These sessions will include presentations, panel discussions and interactive fora, ensuring participant engagement and knowledge sharing. 

Learning clinics will be dedicated to specific topics such as logistics coordination, information management and analysis and emergency response tools and services. This blended approach aims to create a dynamic and collaborative environment, enabling participants to share experiences, discuss emerging challenges, and gain practical insights into effective preparedness strategies for the hurricane season.

For more information, comments and suggestions related to the organization of the event, you can contact Fernando Lopez (fernando.lopezr@un.org)  and Martina Adinolfi (martina.adinolfi@un.org).

Registration

To register in the event, kindly complete the following registration form.

Agenda

To access the event´s agenda, please use the following link.