City participates in hurricane preparedness exercise

As hurricane season approaches, the City of Sarasota is participating in a hurricane preparedness exercise to ensure key personnel understand the critical actions that need to occur before, during and after a storm, according to the city’s Public Information Officer Jan Thornburg.

Named “Hurricane Wendy,” the drill includes activating the City’s Emergency Operations Center, as well as conducting tabletop and functional exercises. As part of the functional drill, residents may see an unusually high number of emergency and Public Works vehicles driving through neighborhoods on Wed., May 22.

“We held our tabletop exercise this morning at the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at the Sarasota Police Headquarters and that went very well,” said City Manager Tom Barwin. “Personnel who are integral in dealing with logistics, planning, public safety, purchasing, public information—all were there at the table assessing our needs for tomorrow’s exercise which will simulate a category 2 hurricane approximately 1-2 hours away from Sarasota. It’s critical everyone understands their role within the big picture.”

The drill is part of a hurricane preparedness plan occurring simultaneously throughout the State of Florida.

“We will keep our fingers crossed that we never have to face such an event, but in the meantime we will be ready,” Barwin said at Monday’s City Commission meeting.