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Students get prepared

During the 2024 school year, Pinellas County public and charter middle schools were invited to participate in the Hurricane Preparedness Poster Contest and challenged to create posters to educate the public on the importance of hurricane preparedness. The top three winners were announced at a May 22 event at the Pinellas County Emergency Operations Center. The winning posters are on display in the Pinellas County Courthouse in Clearwater and in the Pinellas County Emergency Operations Center. All of the posters that were created are displayed at FloridaRAMA in St. Petersburg.

The top-three winners:

1st Place

Addie Sharp

East Lake Middle School

Image of poster for hurricane preparedness with a message that reads: Stop. Hurricane season is no joke. 1. Know the facts. Hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30. Hurricanes can cause billions of dollars in damages. 2. Make a plan. Make sure you know your evacuation route. Have a hurricane kit. Have access to clean water and food. 3. Stay prepared. Bring outdoor furniture inside. Make sure any animals are safe. Keep away from windows.

2nd Place

Pratibha Singh

James B. Sanderlin Middle School

Image of a poster for hurricane preparedness that reads: Hurricanes, Staying safe when disaster strikes. Dates are Saturday June 1 2024 to Saturday November 30 2024. Plan. Plan out what you'll do it a hurricane strikes. Make sure you know what zone you are in and always be in the know. Learn more about what zone you are in using https://www.floridadisaster.org/knowyourzone. Risks include flooding, winds and interrupted services that may occur. Make sure you are prepared. Prepare. Create a plan, make sure everything is in place, and make sure everyone in your family knows what is going on. Act. When a hurricane strikes, be calm and don't panic. Act according to your plan. Stay in a closet, small interior room, or hallway on the lowest level during the hurricane. Inform. Be prepared and help others prepare. Hurricanes affect us all.

3rd Place

Katerina Tamburdzhiyska

Bay Point Middle School

Image of a poster for hurricane preparedness that reads: Hurricane preparedness. How to be safe during the hurricane season. 1 Make a plan. 2 Build a kit. 3 Stay informed and watch the news. Buy a portable charger and radio. Find the nearest shelter. Get all supplies for your pets. 7 Evacuation plan. 8 Grab important documents.

Supplies collected by elementary school students

A cut-out character holding hurricane supplies is in front of supplies in a classroom.
“Prepared Pinella” is in the classroom of James B. Sanderlin during the school’s hurricane preparedness event.

Elementary school students were involved in hurricane preparedness, too, collecting hurricane supplies prior to the 2024 hurricane season. The items were donated to local food pantries to help others prepare.

As part of this project, fifth graders at James B. Sanderlin talked to the first graders in the elementary school to teach them about what to include in a hurricane kit. These supplies were delivered to the St. Pete Free Clinic for distribution.

See photos and story in the Tampa Bay Times

Photo of three children holding up the Pinellas County Hurricane Guide.
Fifth graders Gabriella Pescantez, left, Egon Palmer and Victoria McDonald of Douglas L. Jamerson Elementary School explain to first graders how to prepare for a hurricane on Thursday in St. Petersburg. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]

This story with photos was published by the Tampa Bay Times and is used with permission.