Community safety, hurricane prep offered to public
By KATHY FERGUSON
Article published on Wednesday, March 15, 2006  |
SEMINOLE – Alberto, Beryl and Chris better watch out before blowing into this area. The community is getting ready for these three potential hurricanes and the other 18 named storms.
Anyone interested in learning more about hurricane preparedness is invited to attend a special, free public meeting on Wednesday, March 22, 10 a.m., in the Seminole Garden Apartments auditorium.
Fire Marshal Fred Mullins and Assistant Fire Chief Mike Wallace, from Seminole’s Fire and Rescue Department, will talk about the city’s preparation that has been pumped-up based on last year’s impacts felt along the Gulf Coast.
Bert Henderson, from the Pinellas County Extension Service’s National Resources and Energy Conservation, will offer information from the county’s perspective. Family planning, stress management in an emergency and information about recovery efforts will be included in the program.
“My main concern is that we live in a nonevacuation zone with the majority being elderly,” said Linda Cole, Seminole Garden resident coordinating the session. “And, I want us all to be put on notice to take responsibility on how to prepare and react afterwards. It’s also important to know what we can expect from the city and county.”
After all, Cole said, Seminole Garden Apartments is located on more than 40 acres with more than 30 buildings.
Along with that topic, Seminole’s Community Policing Officer Matt Carpenter will offer information about community safety. Carpenter signed on in this role in October of last year. Before moving to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Carpenter worked as a firefighter and EMT in Belleair Bluffs.
“We’ve done a lot of new things this last year,” said Ramona Brown, president of the community club. “We are looking forward to this meeting.”
The public is invited to the free session. No reservations are necessary. Seminole Garden Apartments is at 8275 113th St., and the auditorium is the only one story building on 112th Street.
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Article published on Wednesday, March 15, 2006
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