Seminar scheduled for disaster preparedness

When living on a barrier island, it’s important to be prepared for the worst.

Longboat Key residents can learn best practices for hurricane preparedness by attending a seminar Thursday, May 14. The event hosted by the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce will feature a panel of experts on subjects ranging from evacuation procedures to insurance to weather trends.

“I think that this lineup of speakers this year is going to offer some new and important educational information that a lot of our local residents have not heard before,” Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kim Verreault said. “It’s very pertinent information.”

ABC 7 Chief Meteorologist Bob Harrigan, Secur-All insurance agency Branch Manager Sandra Smith, Rep. Vern Buchanan’s Legislative Aide Chase Babair, Longboat Key Police Chief Russ Mager and Fire Chief Paul Dezzi will make up the panel.

The event will be held at 4 p.m. with doors opening at 3:15 p.m., Thursday, May 14 at Longboat Key Club’s Harbourside Ballroom, 3000 Harbourside Drive.

Complimentary refreshments will be offered and a “go bucket” raffle prize with storm prep and recovery supplies will be given out. More than 20 vendors will be set up at the event. Verreault said the vendors will be businesses that residents would seek out pre or post hurricane, providing resources for residents to be better prepared for storm season. Hurricane season begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30.