Speakers recount lessons learned, prep methods at disaster prep seminar

This year’s disaster preparedness seminar on Longboat Key felt different from previous years. 

The 2025 Longboat Key Disaster Preparedness Seminar included not only the best methods of preparation and communication around storms but also some key takeaways and lessons learned from Town Manager Howard Tipton. 

Kim Verreault, president and CEO of the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce, opened the event by touching on how active the 2024 hurricane season was for Longboat Key and the resilience shown by the community.

“This experience has shown us that Longboat Key is more than just a place; it's a community of people who take care of each other,” Verreault said. “Recovery takes a team, and that is exactly what we have.” 

Mayor Ken Schneier also added to the opening remarks, emphasizing the impact hurricanes Helene and Milton had on the island. 

“The aftermath is still underway and will be for months, if not years,” he said. “The pain felt by many of our residents and businesses has been enormous and is continuing.” 

Lessons learned

Tipton shared his lessons learned from first-hand experience. While Helene roared by well off the coast of Longboat Key, Tipton was in the town hall, trapped. He watched as the water rushed through Bay Isles Road, totaling his town-issued vehicle. 

His first key takeaway: Storms don’t have to be close or involve high winds to cause a lot of damage. 

This was apparent with Helene, which was hundreds of miles off Longboat’s coast yet caused a devastating impact with its storm surge. 

With the storm being so far off the coast, Tipton did not order the town’s fire rescue or police departments off of the island, nor did he leave. 

“We need to really take a critical look at how we will in the future plan for large and powerful storms that remain some distance off the coast,” Tipton said. 

And with that much damage comes a hefty repair cost. The town has emergency reserves set aside to deal with these events, and Tipton said having reserve funds for storms could apply to a personal level, too. 

“I encourage all of you to make sure that you've got something set aside to help with some of the cleanup repairs and costs that come with even a small weather event,” Tipton said. 

For vehicles and electronics, Tipton said everyone could be more cognizant of protecting this equipment in storms. Electric vehicles, bicycles and wheelchairs, for example, do not mix well with saltwater and could quickly become fire hazards. 

In preparing a hurricane plan, Tipton said it’s also important to know where to move your car to higher ground, whether that’s somewhere elevated on the island or a parking garage in Sarasota. 

One of Tipton’s last pieces of advice he shared with the audience was about rebuilding homes. He emphasized the need to evaluate structures before rebuilding them at the same flood level grade. 

“If you are at an at-grade property and you are going to be renovating and staying at grade, I just urge you to reconsider that, because you are going to go through this again,” he said.

Preparedness is key 

Matt Anderson, a science and operations officer with the National Weather Service, focused on how the National Weather Service acquires its data, then pushes out to citizens through various channels. He said it’s important to get weather data and warnings from trusted sources and to heed those warnings when they come through. 

Justin Mosley and Eric Kasunich, two meteorologists from News Channel 8, built on Anderson’s talk. 

The pair talked about the importance of having a plan before a storm comes. This includes building a hurricane kit with essential supplies and staying informed throughout the storm. 

All three weather speakers said, though it may seem a little outdated, weather radio is a reliable source of information, especially in times where you may not have a television or power on a cell phone.

Preparedness also means coming up with an evacuation plan — where to go, what to bring and who to tell. And don’t leave the pets behind. 

That plan often starts with knowing what evacuation zone you are in. With issued evacuation orders, the meteorologists said it’s critical to follow those orders. 

“If you're in these red evacuation zones…you have to have a plan for hurricane season to get out. We have these storms that are threatening, and the storm surge is the number one killer…If you're along the coastline, you really do have to have that plan to get out,” Mosley said. 

County collaboration

Though Longboat Key’s evacuation orders come only from Sarasota County, having collaboration with both Sarasota and Manatee Counties is critical.

Much of the immediate storm response is up to the municipality itself, in this case, the town of Longboat Key. 

But there is still collaboration with counties to assist with resources when they are available. Then, through this collaboration, the counties and municipalities can work to secure resources for the region from state and federal agencies. 

Disaster resources vary with every event, but likely include things like food, water, comfort stations and debris removal, said Sandra Tapfumaneyi, the emergency management chief for Sarasota County.

Tapfumaneyi was joined by her Manatee County counterpart, Matt Myers, whose speeches emphasized why it’s important for Longboat Key to continue collaboration and relationships with the counties.