Data, resources and interview opportunities

WASHINGTON — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting an “above-normal 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.” NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center says to expect between 13-19 named storms, including six to 10 hurricanes and three to five major hurricanes packing sustained winds of at least 111 miles per hour in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea or Gulf of Mexico. NOAA says it expects the season to be above normal, “due to a confluence of factors, including continued ENSO-neutral conditions, warmer than average ocean temperatures, forecasts for weak wind shear, and the potential for higher activity from the West African Monsoon, a primary starting point for Atlantic hurricanes. All of these elements tend to favor tropical storm formation.”

In the active 2024 hurricane season, the Atlantic Basin experienced 18 named storms (tropical storms with 39-73 mph sustained winds or hurricanes with 74+ mph sustained winds). Eleven of those storms were hurricanes, tied with 1995 for the fifth highest on record. Five of those 11 hurricanes — the fourth-highest total ever — made landfall in the U.S. (Hurricanes Beryl, Debby, Francine, Helene and Milton) as the fourth-highest number of hurricanes to make landfall in the U.S. during a season.

The Public Interest Network (which includes PIRG, Environment America, Frontier Group and state groups in Atlantic Coast and Gulf Coast states such as Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia) is sharing information to help contextualize the major environmental, health and consumer concerns posed by the hurricanes that will inevitably come this season.

The following experts are available to interview either over the phone or on camera:

National staff:

Coal ash sites, animal waste lagoons and other water pollution:

John Rumpler, [email protected], runs Environment America’s clean water program. He directs our work to protect the country’s rivers, lakes, streams and drinking water. He has co-authored several research reports, including Accidents Waiting to Happen: Toxic threats to our rivers, lakes and streams. John has also testified before Congress on federal funding for water infrastructure. His current efforts include curbing pollution from PFAS chemicals, sewer overflows, and factory farms, and working to “Get the Lead Out” of drinking water. He’s appeared on camera for CBS This Morning, among other outlets. He’s also been interviewed by such outlets as U.S. News and World Report, Bloomberg and WebMD.

Superfund and other toxic waste facilities:

Isaac Bowers, [email protected], is U.S. PIRG’s federal legislative director. Isaac collaborates with advocacy staff, partner organizations, federal agencies, Congressional staff of both parties and other stakeholders to advance PIRG’s policy goals. He’s been interviewed by outlets such as the New York Times and Forbes and has written for U.S. News & World Report and the Huffington Post. He received his J.D. from New York University School of Law where he was a Korein Environmental Law Fellow.

The connection between climate change and hurricanes:

Theo Rosen, [email protected], is a climate campaigns associate with Environment America. Theo works on campaigns to improve and strengthen America’s reckoning with climate change. She’s written about the increase in “billion dollar” weather and climate disasters in the United States and advocated for adaptation strategies such as wetlands restoration to build greater climate resilience. She’s been interviewed by the Chicago Tribune and the Public News Service.

Energy resiliency/renewable energy:

Johanna Neumann, [email protected], is the senior director of Environment America’s Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy. Johanna oversees our work to make sure Americans understand the benefits that renewable sources of energy — especially solar and wind power — bring to our communities vs. the dangers of fossil fuels and nuclear power. Johanna has been quoted on energy issues in major publications including the Washington Post, The Hill and CNN, and she appeared in an NBC News package about solar power and battery storage keeping the lights on during storms.

Consumer protection concerns:

Teresa Murray, [email protected], is director of PIRG’s Consumer Watchdog program. She has written or overseen reports and analyses on topics including price-gouging during emergencies, toxic consumer products and scams targeting consumers. She’s passionate about educating people about predatory tactics they may face when they’re vulnerable. Prior to joining PIRG in 2020, Teresa worked as a business journalist and consumer columnist for more than 20 years for Ohio’s largest daily newspaper. Her work with PIRG has been featured by media outlets including CNN, NPR, the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.

Emily Mason, [email protected], runs Environment America’s affiliate Environment North Carolina. Emily organizes events which bring people together to learn about how they can increase energy resiliency through rooftop solar and battery storage. She has also been interviewed on 88.5 WFDD about her advocacy to protect old-growth forests as a tool to mitigate climate change.

Jennette Gayer, [email protected], runs Environment America’s affiliate Environment Georgia. Jennette has led successful campaigns to designate the headwaters of the Conasauga River as Georgia’s first “outstanding national resource water,” expand parks along the Chattahoochee River and Jekyll Island State Park, and stop construction of three new coal-fired power plants in Georgia. She’s also an advocate for solar policies. She serves on the leadership team for the Georgia Water Coalition and is on the board of the Georgia Solar Energy Association. She has extensive broadcast and print media experience.

Emily Scarr, [email protected], is a senior advisor with PIRG’s state affiliate Maryland PIRG. Emily has authored reports on Maryland’s energy efficiency program, PFAS chemicals, and the role of big money in Maryland elections. She is quoted often by in-state media, and both the Washington Post and the Baltimore Sun have published her op-eds.

Doug O’Malley, [email protected], runs Environment America’s affiliate Environment New Jersey. Doug has led campaigns to fast-track New Jersey’s clean energy economy via offshore wind, solar and energy efficiency programs, to rejoin New Jersey in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) program, oppose the expansion of fossil fuel projects, and expand electric vehicles across the state. He has also led campaigns focused on New Jersey’s drinking water quality and protection of the state’s watershed lands. He was recognized by EPA Region II with an Environmental Quality Award in 2012. He is a go-to expert on these topics for New Jersey media, and has been quoted by broader media including the New York Times and E&E.

Luke Metzger, [email protected], runs Environment America’s affiliate Environment Texas. He has led successful campaigns to win permanent protection for the Christmas Mountains of Big Bend; to compel Exxon, Shell, Chevron Phillips and Petrobras to cut air pollution at four Texas refineries and chemical plants; and to boost state funding for water conservation and parks. He has extensive on-air experience, including appearances on CNN, MSNBC and NPR. He’s also been quoted widely by publications including the Guardian, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and New York Times.

Elly Wilson, [email protected], runs Environment America’s affiliate Environment Virginia. She works to promote clean air, clean water and special places in Virginia through direct advocacy and grassroots organizing. Elly has worked to defend federal and state climate policies, expand clean, renewable energy in Virginia and protect coastal resiliency. Elly has engaged the media around these and other issues throughout Virginia.

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Authors

Mark leads The Public Interest Network’s national communications and media relations campaigns. Before joining The Public Interest Network, Mark worked at CNN for nearly 20 years, and taught writing classes for six years through the Turner Professional Development Center. Mark was the recipient of an Emmy Award, two Peabody Awards and a DuPont Award. Mark currently lives near Denver, Colo., with his wife and three children. He’s also a music fanatic who’s been lucky enough to interview many of his favorite artists.

As president of Environment America, Wendy is a leading voice for the environment in the United States. She has been quoted in major national, state and local news outlets for nearly 40 years on issues ranging from air pollution to green investing. She is also a senior vice president with The Public Interest Network. She is a founding board member of Green Corps, the field school for environmental organizers, and Green Century Funds, the nation’s first family of fossil fuel free mutual funds. Wendy started with WashPIRG, where she led campaigns to create Washington state’s model toxic waste cleanup program and to stop the nation’s first high-level nuclear waste dump site. She is a 1983 graduate of Whitman College. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and dog and hikes wherever and whenever she can.

Started on staff: 2023
B.A., University of York; M.A., University of Exeter

Jon works to elevate The Public Interest Network’s campaigns in the media. In his previous work as a communications director in book publishing, Jon collaborated with many authors focused on social change and the environment. He grew up close to Dartmoor National Park in Devon, England, and loved to climb Haytor Rocks for the panoramic views. In 2021, he spent three weeks traveling around the U.S. on Amtrak trains, witnessing the country’s incredible natural beauty. Jon lives in Chicago, where he likes playing soccer, eating party cut pizza, getting more library books than he can read, and walking around Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary by Lake Michigan.