Port St. Lucie - Thursaday July 6, 2022: Port St. Lucie's 16th annual Hurricane Preparedness Expo will be held on Saturday July 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center in Port St. Lucie.
Hurricane season has already begun. It runs through Nov. 30. Being prepared is the key to protecting your home and loved ones during a severe storm. This year’s expo will focus on education and will include informative presentations from meteorologists, local emergency managers, City staff and key community organizations.
The expo is the City’s premier storm preparation event that connects residents with businesses and emergency services providers. It aims to prepare residents for extreme weather situations through presentations, interactive exhibits, weather forecasting and more. It is a free event that is open to the public.
Presenters include:
• WPBF 25’s First Warning Weather Team with Severe Weather Expert Mike Lyons and Meteorologists Cris Martinez, Sandra Shaw, and Vanessa Vinent
• WPTV ‘s First Alert Meteorologist James Wieland
• WPEC’s StormTrac Meteorologist Vytas Reid
• Emergency Management panel discussion with key personnel from the City of Port St. Lucie, St. Lucie County, Indian River County and Martin County
Even though the expo will have a smaller footprint this year, it will be jam-packed with 44 preparedness vendors, presentations and giveaways. The event will feature exhibitors that focus on preparedness such as storm shutters; tree and lawn maintenance; generators; water damage; garage doors; fences; gutters; and insurance.
The expo also will have a few fun new editions such as a scavenger hunt, an interactive photo booth and emergency vehicles on display from the American Red Cross, St. Lucie County Fire District and the Salvation Army. In addition, a 6250-watt Champion Dual Fuel Portable Generator, a $100 gift card from Rocky’s Ace Hardware, first-aid kits and solar batteries will be raffled off, and those who attend a presentation will receive a free Hurricane Expo hat or bag, while supplies last. A schedule of events is available here.
The MIDFLORIDA Event Center is 9221 SE Event Center Place in Port St. Lucie.
This event was made possible in part to the following sponsors:
• Title Sponsor: Sampson Tree Service
• Hurricane Sponsors: Just Shutter It & GenerX Generators
• Tropical Storm Sponsors: AquaSeekers, Holt’s Reliable Garage Door Repair, O’Donnel Impact Windows & Storm Protection and Storm Tight Windows
While this in-person event is the best way to start your hurricane preparations, the City’s website offers a virtual educational component including videos, hurricane supply lists, disaster preparedness guides, shelter locations and evacuation routes. Throughout the season, a variety of videos will be available, such as National Weather Service’s How Forecasting Has Changed, Former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate’s Flood Safety Tips and a series of safety videos by Florida Power & Light.
Visit www.CityofPSL.com/Hurricane to learn more about the Hurricane Expo and discover how to be prepared and stay safe during this hurricane season.