Students get prepared

Pinellas County Emergency Management’s partnership with Pinellas County Schools continues this year with the Prepared Pinellas Hurricane Preparedness Poster Contest. In the beginning of 2026, Pinellas County public and charter middle schools were invited to create posters to educate the public on the importance of hurricane preparedness. The winners were announced at a March 11 event at the Pinellas County Emergency Operations Center, where the posters are proudly displayed, along with the top three winners from the 2024 poster contest. The first-place poster is included in the 2026 Pinellas County Hurricane Guide, in partnership with the Tampa Bay Times Newspapers in Education program.

The top-three winners:

1st Place

Jayden Usry

Seminole Middle School

Poster for hurricane preparedness that includes messages of what you need such as bottled water and non perishable food, why we should be prepared, because being prepared helps keep us safe when emergencies happen, and safety is important because it protects lives and prevents serious injuries during emergencies. Preparing ahead of time helps reduce risks and keeps people out of harm's way.

2nd Place

Luna Mehltretter and Ashley Robert

Madeira Beach Fundamental 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

Abigail Ramsamooj

Clearwater Fundamental Middle School

Poster for hurricane preparedness that says Number 1 Whats in your plan. What to do in case of a hurricane. what to put in a hurricane emergency kit, such as bandaids, knife, non perishable food, flashlight, tarpo and pain killers, possibly blankets, batteries and hand warmers. Number 2 know your zone. Know your evacuation plan, what shelters would work best for you and your zone. Number 3. What to be aware of in a hurricane. Things to be mindful of in a hurricane are flooding, wind speed, and power outages. If you are unsure if you should evacuate or stay keep in mind when your house was built, how many trees and power lines are close and what category and where the hurricane is. Number 4. Aftermath of a storm. Surprisingly more people die after a hurricane because for example they pick up live powerlines, walk through flooded waters, or try to pick up sharp debris. Never do any of this. Leave it to the professionals that do the job.

Runner-Up

Landen Rebimbas

Tarpon Springs Middle School

Poster with the words hurricanes, stay safe, not sorry. Includes graphics of the Saffir Simpson Scale, showing the different categories of hurricanes from category 1 to category 5, a list of evacuation zones from Zone A to Zone E, evacuation versus staying put, pictures of hurricane kit essentials and graphics for know the facts, stay informed, with logos of FOX13 and ABC Action News.

Elementary school students get involved in hurricane preparedness

A cut-out character holding hurricane supplies is in front of supplies in a classroom.

Prior to the 2024 hurricane season, elementary school students from throughout Pinellas County collected boxes of hurricane supplies, which were donated to local food pantries to help others prepare. James B. Sanderlin School in St. Petersburg went one step further and used the opportunity to let the fifth graders show the first graders what to include in a hurricane kit.

Schools throughout the County are finding ways that they can help the community prepare for hurricanes and other severe weather through education, collections, and helping at home with family planning. Let us know what projects you are working on! Email us at ema@pinellas.gov.