Expo Offers Hurricane Preparedness Resources for Pensacola Beach and Local Families
With hurricane season a constant concern for Pensacola Beach and surrounding coastal communities, families in Escambia County and Santa Rosa County are invited to attend a free Disaster Services Expo on Sunday, April 26, 2026, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bayview Community Center, 2001 E. Lloyd Street in Pensacola.
Hosted by Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE), the family‑friendly preparedness event is designed to help residents in hurricane‑prone coastal areas learn how to prepare for disasters and connect with trusted local resources before the next storm or emergency strikes.
Preparing Coastal Communities Before the Storm
The Disaster Services Expo brings together local Long Term Recovery partners, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, service providers, and local vendors that support residents before and after disasters—particularly those affecting barrier island and coastal communities like Pensacola Beach.
Participating organizations will provide information on:
Hurricane preparedness and mitigation
Housing, rebuilding, and recovery assistance
Legal and financial guidance after disasters
Emotional and long‑term recovery support
Contractors and home hardening options
Hands‑On Preparedness for Families
Families attending the Expo will have opportunities to participate in hands‑on demonstrations and educational activities, including:
Basic first aid information
Fire extinguisher demonstrations
Generator safety guidance for storm outages
Household emergency planning
Pet disaster preparedness
Flood risk lookups by address
Sign‑ups for local disaster alerts
These activities are especially relevant for residents of Pensacola Beach, where flooding, power outages, and evacuation planning are recurring hurricane concerns.
Emergency Vehicles and Kid‑Friendly Learning
The Escambia County Emergency Management Office and Santa Rosa County Emergency Management Office will participate, along with a variety of emergency response vehicles for children and families to explore. These include Escambia County’s mobile command post trailer, THOR, as well as other city and county emergency vehicles.
Children can participate in a passport activity, collecting stamps as they visit each preparedness area. Families who complete their passports can enter raffles for household disaster preparedness items.
Community Connections and Food Trucks
Food trucks will be available on site, making the Expo an easy and engaging Sunday afternoon outing for families from Pensacola Beach, Pensacola, and nearby coastal communities.
The event also highlights coordination among recovery partners through the Disaster Services RoundTable, a BRACE‑led network that brings organizations together to share resources, address challenges, and strengthen disaster readiness, response, and recovery across both counties.
“Preparedness works best when families know what resources are available and feel comfortable reaching out before a disaster happens,” said Dr. Nick Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of BRACE. “The Disaster Services Expo creates a welcoming space for residents—especially those in hurricane‑prone areas—to learn, ask questions, and connect with the organizations that serve our community.”
Event Details
Event: Disaster Services Expo
Date: Sunday, April 26, 2026
Time: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Bayview Community Center, 2001 E. Lloyd Street, Pensacola
Cost: Free and open to the public
Organizations interested in participating as vendors or joining the Disaster Services RoundTable can call 850‑739‑3981 for registration information.