Manatee County tests hurricane preparedness

Is Manatee County prepared if a hurricane hits?

As hurricane season approaches June 1, more than 150 county community leaders and officials will again participate in the annual hurricane preparation exercise, slated for 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. May 21, at the Manatee County Public Safety Building, 2101 47th Terrace E., Bradenton.

The hypothetical scenario covers a Category 3 storm, Hurricane Gibson, which "swept" from southeast Florida toward Manatee County.

Attendees will focus on post-storm recovery and helping communities bounce back after a devastating storm. Response teams will address issues, such as power outages, debris removal and road and bridge evaluations.

"This type of tabletop scenario is a perfect venue to validate our plans and expectations of each other," said Don Hermey, Emergency Management chief. "This is a great training opportunity for our community partners as well as new players."

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].