Okaloosa County will host its Annual Hurricane Preparedness Expo on Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Okaloosa County Administration Building, 1250 N. Eglin Parkway in Shalimar.
- The free event is designed to remind residents to prepare ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season and to take every approaching storm seriously, regardless of its designated category.
Early attendees will receive a free bag and can collect disaster supply items such as flashlights, first-aid kits and hand sanitizer as they visit vendor booths. The expo will feature more than 14 vendors, two food trucks, a touch-a-truck area, free hurricane guides and direct access to county staff who can answer questions and provide information.
“I encourage every family in Okaloosa County to create a hurricane readiness plan,” said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Trey Goodwin. “The Hurricane Expo is a great opportunity for the public to find resources that will facilitate preparedness and foster a mindset that keeps us alert throughout the year.”
The expo will also feature two speakers with experience in disaster management and meteorology.
Patrick Maddox, Okaloosa County Director of Public Safety, will open the event with a presentation focused on local impact information, evacuation methodology and how county leadership makes decisions before, during and after a storm.
Jessica Chace, Senior Meteorologist for the National Weather Service, will deliver the keynote address, offering insight on how the NWS keeps the public informed in real time during storm events and how the agency guides messaging as a threat approaches.
An interactive Q&A panel will round out the event, featuring representatives from local utilities, law enforcement and emergency management who will answer attendee questions and share updates on their agencies’ storm preparedness efforts.
