City’s annual storm seminar to feature panel of local experts
The community encouraged to attend an island event in preparation for this year’s storm season.
The city of Sanibel will host its 2026 Hurricane Seminar on May 29 from 1 to 3 p.m. at BIG ARTS on Sanibel. Free and open to the public, it will be an informative event featuring a panel of speakers.
Storm season is recognized as June 1 through Nov. 30.
“The idea behind it is for new folks who haven’t experienced a hurricane, so we can at least get them thinking about their own family emergency plan,” Sanibel Police Department Police Chief William “Bill” Dalton said. “And it’s always worth it for folks who are experienced as well because any single tip might be helpful to them.”
The panel will share with residents, business owners and island workers the city’s plan for the storm season, hurricane preparedness and family emergency planning, special needs issues, post-storm recovery plans, and more.
“It’s kind of the local area, not just island officials,” he said of the speakers.
City departments, the Sanibel Fire and Rescue District and FISH of Sanibel-Captiva will be joined by a regional news meteorologist, Lee County Emergency Management official and LCEC representative.
This year’s panel will include:
– Sanibel Fire Chief Kevin Barbot, who will discuss the district’s roles and responsibilities during a hurricane, including first responders’ search-and-rescue efforts
– Dalton, who will talk about the city’s hurricane reentry pass program for Sanibel and Captiva, how evacuation and reentry works, and what the agency does at the start of the recovery process
– LCEC Key Account Executive Tricia Dorn, who will speak about the LCEC hurricane restoration efforts and ways that members can prepare for and stay safe before a storm
– FISH Executive Director Maria Espinosa, who will talk about the services and assistance that it provides, like helping people with special needs register with the county as special needs
– Sanibel Public Works Department Director Fred Mittl, who will speak on what staff does before a storm and any post-storm efforts that may be needed, such as clearing roads and debris clean up
– Sanibel Building Department Director and Building Official Craig Molé, who will discuss the building Codes and provide related flood information, to include the specific flood zones
– Lee County Emergency Management Public Safety Chief John Schultz, who will speak on the county’s role in the broader sense — as the islands are also part of Lee County — what the county does, and the assistance and services that it provides, such as storm shelters
– WINK News meteorologist Andrew Shipotofsky, who will discuss how hurricanes form, past storms that have hit the area, how weather experts track hurricanes, and how storms are predicted
The islands are invited to come out.
“Preparation is important when it comes to hurricanes,” Dalton said. “Prepare for the worst and hope for the best — and prepare early.”
Those unable to attend can watch the livestream on the city’s Facebook page.
For more information or questions, call 239-472-4135.
BIG ARTS is at 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel.
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IF YOU GO
What
Annual Hurricane Seminar
Who
City of Sanibel
When
May 29 from 1 to 3 p.m.
Where
BIG ARTS, 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel
Details
Free and open to public