Senator Ashley Moody recognized the extraordinary efforts of the City of Oldsmar to help citizens prepare for potential hurricane strikes. During last hurricane season, the Tampa Bay region received record storm surge flooding and damage from back-to-back hits by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. To assist residents in future storm events, Oldsmar developed the Pledge to Evacuate campaign and the Oldsmar Support Services Alliance to engage residents to follow evacuation orders and facilitate help in the aftermath of a storm. For these programs and initiatives, the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council named Oldsmar the winner of the Future of the Region Award for Community Preparedness and Resiliency. Senator Moody recently stood with city and local officials in Oldsmar to present a Special Congressional Recognition in honor of this achievement.
Senator Ashley Moody said, “Last year, Hurricanes Helene and Milton wreaked havoc in communities across Florida, especially in the Tampa Bay area. From the destruction came innovative programs to help residents prepare and efficiently recover from future storm strikes. I’m proud to honor Oldsmar’s tremendous proactive efforts to support residents, and for being awarded the Future of the Region in Tampa Bay.”
Oldsmar Mayor Katie Gannon said, “The City of Oldsmar is deeply honored to receive this Special Congressional Recognition from Senator Moody. This recognition affirms the importance of our Pledge to Evacuate and the Oldsmar Support Services Alliance, and it highlights the strength, resilience, and unity of our community in working together to protect and support one another.”
As a flood-vulnerable community, Oldsmar created its Pledge to Evacuate campaign to encourage residents to heed evacuation warnings and prepare early for storms. The TBRPC recognized the program for creatively leveraging community trust, digital innovation, and multi-channel outreach.
Following the impact sustained from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the city formed the Oldsmar Support Services Alliance to coordinate the recovery efforts of various community organizations. The alliance started as an informal sharing of resources but evolved into a structured partnership, bringing together organizations and community leaders to support residents in the most efficient and effective way possible.
