St. Pete hurricane expo will address seniors storm season concerns

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.  — The City of St. Pete is hosting a hurricane expo on Thursday tailored specifically towards seniors.

The seminar will take place at The Sunshine Senior Center located at 330 5th St N from 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. The event will begin with presentations from experts and conclude with an ice cream social event in the center’s main lobby where seniors can ask the different speakers questions.

Topics include how to find your evacuation zone, how to create an evacuation and safety plan, advice on how to manage medical issues during an evacuation, uses for 911 during a storm, and how to protect yourself and your belongings after the storm passes. Experts from emergency management, Pinellas County Safety and Emergency Services, and the Consumer Protection Agency will all be on hand to answer questions following the presentations.

Carole Ware with The Sunshine Center says there are already 80 seniors signed up for the expo, which is more than she has ever seen in her seven years working at the senior center.

“I think people are hearing the warnings that this could be a busy hurricane season,” she said.

Ware says her fear is that if seniors don’t prepare now, they could get into a more serious situation should a storm approach the Tampa Bay area.

“Luckily we’ve been blessed with nothing too bad but people think… I’m fine, I’m going to be at home,” she said. “That’s when we worry they can get into a real emergency situation”.

Any senior interested in attending Thursday’s expo is welcome. You’re encouraged to register here.