Free Hurricane Prep Expo Comes to Brooksville in April 2026

Hernando County residents have a shot at walking out of Hernando High School with a free generator this month. United Way of Hernando County and Hernando County Emergency Management are co-hosting the "#HernandoPrepares Hurricane & Safety Expo" on Sunday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the school at 111 Ernie Chatman Run in Brooksville, with the generator raffle drawing set for noon. Winners must be present to claim the prize.

The expo will feature an interactive meteorologist panel, Touch-A-Truck equipment demonstrations, public-safety displays, food trucks, vendor resource tables, and a Hurri-Kids activity zone for children. On-site enrollment in the county's AlertHernando emergency notification system will also be available, along with guidance on special-needs shelter registration and information about transportation assistance programs for residents who need help evacuating.

The meteorologist panel is a rare opportunity for direct engagement with weather professionals in a county where storm surge and flood risk can vary significantly between neighborhoods near the Gulf Coast and those further inland. That kind of localized detail, including which evacuation zones trigger for which storm tracks, is difficult to get through printed guides alone.

Florida's hurricane season officially opens June 1. County emergency managers have made the spring expo a recurring tool for reaching families who might not otherwise seek out preparedness resources before the season begins, offering a single location to handle multiple preparations at once.

Nonprofits, faith-based organizations, volunteer groups, and private vendors can reserve a table by downloading a vendor application through the United Way of Hernando County's event page. Hernando County Emergency Management is available at 352-754-4083 for exhibitor registration questions.

The expo is free and open to all, with free parking on the Hernando High School campus.