Okaloosa County, Fla., May 28, 2026—Okaloosa County’s annual Hurricane Preparedness Expo is scheduled for Saturday at the county administration building in Shalimar.

The public is invited to attend from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Each year, this event reminds Okaloosa County residents to be prepared ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season and to heed caution for every storm that approaches the area, regardless of the storm’s designated category.

Early attendees at the event will receive a free bag and be able to collect free disaster supply items like flashlights, first-aid kits and hand sanitizer as they visit vendor booths.

The event will highlight more than 14 vendors, two food trucks, a touch-a-truck area, free hurricane guides and direct access to county staff members to 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 extensive experience in disaster management and meteorology.

Okaloosa County Director of Public Safety Patrick Maddox will kick off the event with a presentation designed specifically for Okaloosa County, focused on local impact information, evacuation methodology and how decisions are made by County leadership before, during and after the storm.

Jessica Chace, Senior Meteorologist for the National Weather Service, is the keynote speaker and will provide insight on how the NWS keeps the public informed during storm events in real-time and how the agency efficiently guides messaging as a threat approaches.

The event will also feature an interactive Q&A panel with representatives from local utilities, law enforcement and emergency management, who will answer questions from attendees and provide updates related to agency storm preparedness.

Information about the expo

• What: Okaloosa County’s Hurricane Preparedness Expo
• When: May 30, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Where: Okaloosa County Administration Building, 1250 N. Eglin Parkway., Shalimar

Nick Tomecek, Okaloosa County public information officer