On June 17th, the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season produced its first named storm when Tropical Storm Arthur formed along the Texas coastline between Galveston and Corpus Christi. Offshore observations confirmed tropical storm force winds, with a weather buoy near Galveston reporting sustained winds of 52 mph and gusts reaching 69 mph. What followed was one of the most destructive flooding events the region has seen so far this season.

The Gulf Coast saw historic rainfall

As Arthur moved inland, the storm tapped into a reservoir of tropical moisture and stalled across portions of the Gulf Coast. This caused historic rainfall totals that overwhelmed drainage systems, flooded homes and businesses, and forced evacuations across Louisiana and Mississippi. After Arthur weakened below tropical storm status, remnants produced dangerous rainfall and flooding for days.

The storm's impacts were felt across the region:

• More than 2 feet of rain fell in parts of Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, in just 48 hours
• Cottonport, LA, saw 29.06 inches of rainfall, and Plaucheville, LA, received 22.53 inches
• In Picayune, MS, over 15 inches of rain fell over three days as waterways rose toward record levels
• Flooding in Picayune was expected to surpass levels recorded during Hurricane Isaac in 2012
• More than 140 homes flooded across communities served by the Cottonport, Plaucheville, and Moreauville fire districts
• Anchor Lake Dam failed along East Hobolochitto Creek near Picayune, prompting evacuations downstream

El Niño continues to affect the 2026 season

For many communities, Arthur delivered nearly half of their average annual rainfall in a single day. The storm also arrived as experts track the development of El Niño conditions through 2026. El Niño is a recurring climate pattern that influences rainfall, temperatures, and hurricane activity around the world. Historically, El Niño years have produced fewer Atlantic hurricanes, but storms that do develop can still cause severe flooding and widespread disruption. Arthur is an early reminder this hurricane season that risk cannot be measured by wind speeds or storm counts alone.

How ServiceMaster Restore® helps businesses stay ready

For businesses, the most important decisions are often made before a storm forms. A pre-loss plan helps your team respond faster when disaster strikes. It identifies critical assets, outlines emergency procedures, establishes key contacts, and helps reduce downtime during recovery. ServiceMaster Restore® works with businesses to develop pre-loss plans that support business continuity with 24/7/365 priority response. After an area-wide weather event, demand for restoration services rises quickly. Having a pre-loss agreement in place means your business is already in line for support, with pre-approved rates and a plan to stabilize your property and keep recovery moving forward.

Though Arthur never became a hurricane, its flooding disrupted communities for days and demonstrated that the strongest responses begin before watches and warnings are issued. Here’s your reminder this season to review emergency procedures and make sure your business is prepared with a pre-loss plan. Connect with yourlocal ServiceMaster Restore® team(Opens in a new window) to get started today, so when you face the unexpected, all you’ll need to do is make the call.