AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — Hurricanes, tornadoes and hail can all cause damage and major life disruptions. To help Alabamians better prepare for potential severe weather impacts, a group of experts with Alabama Extension at Auburn University is hosting the first Storm Ready workshop.

On Saturday, May 16, at the Gulf Coast Eco Center in Gulf Shores, Alabama, participants will learn everything from chainsaw and generator maintenance to food safety, insurance considerations and tree risk assessments. The workshop runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Topics Covered

Jack Rowe, a forestry, wildlife and natural resources agent with Alabama Extension, is one of the event presenters and organizers. Rowe will tackle the topics of trees.

“There is no tree without tree risk,” Rowe said. “We’ll talk about the importance of assessing trees, removing weak ones and selecting the right trees to provide a wind buffer.”

With six other informational sessions, the topics and presenters who will speak during Storm Ready include the following:

• Garden Prep and Recovery with Carmen Flammini, home horticulture Extension agent
• Chainsaw and Generator Safety and Maintenance with Joel Potter of Mobile
• Insurance Considerations with Beau Brodbeck, Extension assistant director of field operations
• Storm Resilience and SEA Grants with Andrea Robards, forestry, wildlife and natural resources Extension agent
• Food, Water and Sanitation with Rebecca Catalena, food safety and quality Extension agent
• First Aid with Jamie Crouch, financial management Extension agent

“There is so much to consider when a storm hits,” Rowe said. “Will you have access to water? Will you have enough food to get through up to a week or two without electricity? You may have a generator already, but have you changed the oil and made sure it’s working properly? Also, a lot of people don’t think about how easy it is to injure themselves when there is debris all around. All of these topics are super important.”

Who Should Attend

While the workshop will take place along the Gulf Coast, Rowe said the material presented will cover more than hurricane preparedness.

“Severe weather can happen anywhere,” Rowe said. “Hurricanes make us worry about storm surge along the coast, but most other damage hurricanes cause can also happen because of tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, straight-line winds or microbursts. So the recommendations we share at this event can help people all across Alabama.”

With an influx of new residents, including retirees, to Baldwin and Mobile counties, Rowe said Storm Ready could be particularly valuable to those unfamiliar with hurricanes.

“A lot of folks who live in south Alabama have never been through a storm, or they have only been through Hurricane Sally in 2020, which wasn’t really a bad storm,” said Rowe. “We’ve gone a number of years without a hurricane or bad storm. That makes it easy to relax and not be as prepared as you should be.”

Rowe said he hopes the slate of informative presentations will empower participants to take action.

“I want people to be aware of what can happen and know that they can do something about it,” Rowe said.

More Details

There is a $10 fee for the workshop, and registration is required. The Ala-Tom RC&D Council is sponsoring lunch and refreshments. To register, visit aces.edu/go/5923.