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Okaloosa County to Host Florida’s Greatest Hurricane Preparedness Party
“Florida’s Greatest Hurricane Preparedness Party,” hosted by Okaloosa County, is coming back for a second year following the success of the 2024 inaugural event. This year’s Hurricane Expo will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 10 a.m-1 p.m. at the Okaloosa County Administration Building, located at 1250 N. Eglin Parkway in Shalimar, Florida.
FREE - This free event is open to the public and will feature complimentary 2025 Hurricane Guides, various vendors, food trucks, public safety discussions with first responders and interactive displays related to storms and preparedness. The first 100 participants will receive free premium branded tote bags sponsored by Keep Okaloosa Beautiful containing surprise “party” items.
To participate as a vendor at the event please email Nick Tomecek at ntomecek@myokaloosa.com.
The event’s featured speakers include:
𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗼𝘅 | 𝗢𝗸𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆
Patrick Maddox has been the County’s Director of Public Safety since 2019 and has a 31-year career that includes vast experience in law enforcement and emergency preparedness. He held Incident Command positions in Hurricanes Katrina, Charley, Jeanne, Wilma, Matthew, Irma, Michael, Sally and dozens of other tropical threats and civil unrest events during his career.
𝗝𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻 | 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁-𝗶𝗻-𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 (𝗠𝗜𝗖), 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗲 (𝗡𝗪𝗦)
Beaman began his NWS career in 2003 while attending college. After years of experience, he was promoted to MIC in 2022. As the MIC, Beaman directs the NWS Mobile’s meteorological and hydrological warning, forecast, and service programs as well as oversees the area-wide weather preparedness and coordination program, ensuring the responsiveness and technical soundness of the warning and forecast programs and products.
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