Touch a Truck Showcase at Sanford Riverwalk Jan. 31 Teaches Disaster Preparedness

Seminole County will stage its annual Touch a Truck disaster equipment showcase at Sanford Riverwalk on Saturday, Jan. 31, offering residents direct access to the tools and personnel that respond to emergencies. The free, family-friendly event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and features fire trucks, police cars, helicopters, ambulances, public works trucks and other heavy equipment used by first responders and county agencies.

Organized by the Seminole County Office of Emergency Management, the showcase is designed to teach families how to prepare for severe weather events and other disasters. The event gives parents and children hands-on exposure to emergency vehicles and equipment, and provides a practical entry point for conversations about household readiness, evacuation planning, and the role of local government in crisis response.

Public outreach events like Touch a Truck serve multiple institutional purposes. They increase transparency by allowing residents to see the capabilities and limitations of local emergency services, and they create channels for direct interaction between voters and agencies responsible for preparedness. For county officials, the gathering is an opportunity to demonstrate training, equipment investments, and interagency coordination; for residents, it is a chance to raise questions about response times, service coverage, and funding priorities in advance of future budget or policy discussions.

Attendance is aimed at building civic awareness as much as entertaining children. Families who attend will be able to speak with personnel from fire rescue, law enforcement, emergency medical services, and public works about practical steps to take before, during and after severe weather. The event focuses on everyday preparedness measures - from securing important documents to knowing evacuation routes - and on how local agencies function when storms or other disasters strike.

Seminole County officials note the event is free to the public. Residents who want more information or who wish to register can call the Seminole County Office of Emergency Management at 407-665-5102 or register through the county’s event registration page. Bringing the community together with equipment and expertise in one location is intended to make disaster readiness both tangible and actionable.

For local voters and households, Touch a Truck provides a direct way to evaluate how well Seminole County prepares for crises and to inform conversations about emergency management priorities in the months ahead.