PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – With hurricane season fast approaching, Pinellas County and the City of St. Petersburg are joining forces to empower residents with the knowledge and resources they need to stay safe. A free Hurricane Preparedness Day expo will be held on Saturday, May 31st, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Willis S. Johns Recreation Center, located at 6635 Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. St. N., St. Petersburg.
This family-friendly event promises to be an invaluable opportunity for individuals and business owners to learn directly from experts about how to safeguard themselves, their loved ones, and their properties before a storm hits.
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Attendees can expect a range of informative and engaging activities, including the chance to win a free generator. Leading industry professionals will also be on hand to share their expertise, with presentations scheduled by Spectrum Bay News 9 meteorologist Diane Kacmarik and National Weather Service meteorologist Ross Giarratana.
Beyond expert insights, the expo will offer practical resources such as free hurricane kit supplies, an evacuation zone lookup station, and information and registration for the Special Needs Evacuation Program. Residents can also witness an emergency shelter demonstration and learn the proper techniques for sandbagging through a dedicated sandbag demonstration.
The newly released 2025 Pinellas County Hurricane Guides will be available for attendees to take home. Pet owners can also take advantage of free pet services (with the purchase of a County license), including exams, rabies shots, and microchipping.
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Adding to the experience, attendees will have the chance to get up close with emergency response vehicles, and The Salvation Army will provide free food and beverages. For families with young children, a kids’ playground and education zone will feature weather-related arts and crafts, along with complimentary popcorn and snow cones.
Pinellas County encourages all residents and business owners to attend this event and take proactive steps to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season. More information about hurricane preparedness can be found at disaster.pinellas.gov.
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