Okaloosa County to host ‘Florida’s Greatest Hurricane Preparedness Party’

Disclaimer: We are promoting this event on behalf of a local chamber member. This event is not managed or sponsored by the Destin Chamber

Okaloosa County will be hosting “Florida’s Greatest Hurricane Preparedness Party” with an Expo on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at the Okaloosa County Administration Building, located at 1250 N. Eglin Parkway in Shalimar. The event will take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. This free experience is open to the public and aims to bring greater awareness to the importance of being prepared for all disasters, especially hurricanes, as we approach the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season that begins June 1.

“This event is a reminder that we all need to remain vigilant as hurricane season approaches and make preparations now, instead of panicking when it is too late,” said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Paul Mixon. “I encourage all families to attend this fantastic opportunity, make a plan for their households, and learn about how our local agencies make preparations for responding to weather events of this magnitude.”

The festivities will include free custom tote bags sponsored by Keep Okaloosa Beautiful to the first 100 attendees, 2024 Hurricane Guides, giveaways, food trucks and local agency first responders, utilities, businesses and County/municipal departments.
Presenters will discuss topics such as preparing your home, family and boat for a storm, creating a mindset focused on appropriate storm information sources, and treating every storm with respect regardless of its category number or status.

The event’s featured speakers include:

Patrick Maddox | Okaloosa County Director of Public Safety

Patrick Maddox has been the County’s Director of Public Safety since 2019 and has a 30-year career that includes vast experience in law enforcement and emergency preparedness. He held Incident Command positions in Hurricanes Katrina, Charley, Jeanne, Wilma, Matthew, Irma, Michael, Sally and dozens of other tropical threats and civil unrest events during his career.

Laura Hussey | WEARTV Channel 3 Morning News Anchor

Laura Hussey brings more than 25 years of broadcasting experience to her role as morning anchor at Channel 3 News. Memorable moments include 9/11, when she was part of wall-to-wall coverage; and broadcasting live during a slew of Gulf Coast storms and hurricanes in Okaloosa County. She treasures the stories of people in our community, sharing the good times and helping each other through the tough times. Learn more at https://weartv.com/station/people/laura-hussey