Expos aplenty: Will you be ready for hurricane season?

Sunday, June 1 marks the “official” start of the Atlantic hurricane season, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which has published its predictions for 2025. The season runs through Nov. 30.

Of course, meteorological forecasting, despite the array of sophisticated tools at forecasters’ fingertips, is not an exact science. Any “wait and see” attitude, however, should be tempered with thorough preparedness.

Last year’s season, one of the worst in bay area history, wasn’t a complete surprise. But no one at all was able to predict just how extreme the devastation would be.

Hopefully, nothing on that level will blow through in 2025. But we need to be prepared for whatever develops.

To that end, several Pinellas County municipalities are holding free hurricane expos this week and next, to give residents the information they’ll need moving forward.

“Storms are only getting more powerful,” St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said May 13. “It’s not a matter of if we get hit, it’s a matter of when.”

Pinellas County and the City of St. Petersburg will jointly hold a 2025 Hurricane Preparedness Day event Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Willis S. Johns Recreation Center, 6635 Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. St. N. in St. Pete’s Fossil Park. The event will feature a live demonstration of emergency shelters, how to locate and properly use sandbags, and talks from Spectrum Bay News 9 meteorologist Diane Kacmarik and National Weather Service Tampa Bay meteorologist Ross Giarratana.

Key topics including evacuation plans, storm safety, special needs services and emergency preparedness.

Emergency response vehicles will be there for tours, and the Kids Education Zone is an interactive area combining play activities with important information.

Free pet services (with purchase of a County license) will be available, including exams, rabies shots and microchips.

City information page (Facebook).

A St. Petersburg Fire Rescue “High water vehicle.” Photos provided.

In Treasure Island, Bay News 9 Chief Meteorologist Mike Clay will give a presentation at Wednesday’s Hurricane Expo, 6 to 8 p.m. on the 5th floor of City Hall, 10451 Gulf Blvd. City and county staff will provide information on storm response plans, evacuation procedures, and preparation for homes and businesses. Official city link.

The 2025 Madeira Beach Hurricane Expo, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at Madeira Beach City Hall (300 Municipal Drive), brings together preparedness tips, expert guest speakers, educational displays, the area’s evacuation plans, fire department giveaways and information of beach lightning for the summer sea turtle nesting season. Official city link.

WFLA Chief Meteorologist Jeff Berardelli will talk at the St. Pete Beach Hurricane Preparednesss Expo Saturday, June 7 in the St. Pete Beach Community Center Ballroom, 251 76th Ave. At the event, 10 a..-noon, a representative from the National Weather Service (NWS) Tampa Bay will also speak. And there will be information on free services available from government and nonprofit agencies. Official city link.

Additional resources

Pinellas County Hurricane Guide

City of St. Pete: Safeguarding Against the Storm

Pinellas County Flood Zone Map

Pinellas County Flood Information

Treasure Island Storm Ready Webpage