Attendees advised to arrive well in advance of 6 p.m. start time, to pass through school security system
Speakers representing local, state and federal agencies will lead the Community Conversation: Hurricane Preparedness event on Thursday, May 8, that Sarasota County staff will host at Riverview High School in Sarasota, staff announced on May 1.
The high school is located at 1 Ram Way, off Lords Avenue.
“Speakers will share vital information on disaster preparedness, recovery resources and insights from the 2024 hurricane season,” a news release says.
Among the speakers will be the following, the release adds:
- Sandra Tapfumaneyi, Sarasota County Emergency Management chief.
- Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
- Ileana M. Alamo Garay, public affairs specialist with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
- Jennifer Hubbard, National Weather Service warning coordination meteorologist.
- John Brogan, federal coordinating officer with the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA).
The release notes that more information about the speakers may be found at scgov.net/CommunityConversations.
The moderator of the program will be Sarasota County Emergency Services Director Rich Collins.
The doors will open at 5 p.m. on May 8 for the Community Conversations, county staff is reminding the public. “Attendees should arrive early to pass through the school security system,” the release points out. “The discussion will begin at 6 p.m.”
“This event is a great opportunity for residents to learn more and hear directly from experts about where we are in the long-term recovery process from the 2024 hurricane season,” said Tapfumaneyi in the release. “There will be a lot of information on disaster recovery resources and how to be prepared for the upcoming hurricane season.”
In addition to listening to the discussion, attendees will be able to speak with representatives of municipalities and local, state and federal organizations “at various booths before, during and after the event,” the release notes.
The event is free, but registration is encouraged, the release adds.
Along with a number of county departments and programs — including Resilient SRQ, Breeze Transit, Public Works, and Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources — participating organizations in the event will be the City of North Port, All Faith’s Food Bank, the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, SRQ Strong, the Small Business Administration and the Long Term Recovery Group.
Persons planning to attend the event may submit questions for speakers as part of the registration process. Register and learn more at scgov.net/CommunityConversations.