SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Seminole County’s Office of Emergency Management hosted its inaugural Hurricane Action Day event Saturday, providing residents with crucial information to prepare for the hurricane season. 

What You Need To Know

  • Seminole County’s Office of Emergency Management hosted its inaugural Hurricane Action Day event Saturday

  • Over 100 people from nonprofits and faith-based organizations participated in the event

  • Hurricane Action Day offered hands-on safety training, including proper chainsaw and generator usage

  • The event also featured presentations from guest speakers on topics like mental health during disasters and legal services specific to disaster crises

With hurricane season already underway, 25 members from Action Church attended — easily identifiable in their red shirts — eager to learn how they can better assist the community, especially post-disaster. One of the first to greet attendees with a smile was church member and central outreach coordinator, Tina Commesso.

“We believe in serving the community,” she said. “We have around 300 members actively engaged weekly, serving those in need through various ministries and nonprofits. Today, many of our members are here to learn how to serve our community better in the event of a national disaster.”

Over 100 people from nonprofits and faith-based organizations participated in the event. Commesso highlighted the significance of their presence.

“We prioritize taking care of our families, but beyond that, we aim to serve the community. The more hands and educated individuals involved, the better we can support Central Florida community families,” said Commesso.

Hurricane Action Day offered hands-on safety training, including proper chainsaw and generator usage. Alan Harris, Seminole County Emergency Operations Manager, stressed the importance of safety.

“Post-hurricane, we see many injuries from improper chainsaw and generator use, and unsafe debris handling around power lines. We want to ensure people perform these tasks safely, so our first responders can focus solely on the hurricane response,” he said.

Commesso further noted that community support extends beyond physical labor: it’s a labor of love.

“When people are in need, we believe in stepping up. We hope Action Church is the first call to help those in need,” said Commesso.

The event also featured presentations from guest speakers on topics like mental health during disasters and legal services specific to disaster crises. Funded by the American Red Cross Long Term Recovery Capacity Building Grant, awarded to the county post-Hurricane Ian, the event aimed to enhance the capabilities of Seminole H.E.A.R.T., a volunteer organization dedicated to assisting those in need during declared disasters.