Herald-Tribune hurricane expo coming Saturday

Nov. 17--The Herald-Tribune's Hurricane Recovery Expo is scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Sarasota Main Plaza, on Main Street at Links Avenue, adjacent to the Hollywood 20 movie theater. Admission is free.

PGT Custom Windows & Doors is the presenting sponsor. Companies that will staff display booths include Rampart Homes, Tannenbaum Scro law firm, Dakkak Allstate Insurance, Smart Vent Products, Generac, Johnson House Movers, Kimal Lumber, SRQ Storm Protection, Storm Shield, Hurricane Safe Products, Olympus Insurance, My Gorilla Garage, Dream Closets, Pottery as Art and SNN.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is scheduled to have representatives at the event.

The expo will include panel discussions on meteorology, hurricane preparation, property-risk mitigation, taxpayer-funded emergency management, insurance, survival and recovery, and the effect hurricanes may have on the real estate market.

HURRICANE RECOVERY EXPO

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 18, Sarasota Main Plaza.

The schedule of panel discussions, moderated by Harold Bubil, subject to change:

10:00 Welcome

10:05-10:33 -- Minding the weather: Meteorologists Justin Mosely and Marco La Manno. Discussion points: Why tracking is so difficult. Is climate change creating more or stronger tropical storms? What happened to that quiet spell? What does the public misunderstand?

10:34-10:39 -- PGT presentation.

10:40-11:19 -- Planning for the worst/designing for wind and flood. Architect Jerry Sparkman; contractor John King; Sarasota County building official Marty Duran, Sarasota County floodplain managers Ben Quartermaine and Des Companion. Discussion points: Stronger building codes. Planning for flooding through the Community Rating System.

11:20-12:15 -- Mitigation/hardening your home or business structure: Jerry Sparkman; John King; PGT's Dean Ruark; house mover/lifter Brett Johnson; Mike Graham of Smart Vent. Discussion points: The four-point inspection and the elevation certificate. Making sense of shutters. The roofing code. Garage-door bracing. Stronger structural connections. Elevating structures.

12:16-12:45 -- Covering the storm. Real Estate Editor Chris Wille with Herald-Tribune reporters and editors.

12:50-1:25 -- Insurance for storm hazards. Allstate broker Mary Dakkak; attorney Bailey Lowther; SC floodplain manager Ben Quartermaine; Mike Graham. Discussion points: Windstorm insurance, replacement-cost coverage and "ordinance or law coverage." Flood insurance rates and requirements.

1:30-2:25 -- Survival and Recovery: Emergency Manager Ed McCrane; contractor Kia Ricchi; lawyer Alan Tannenbaum; property manager Thomas Fastiggi; FPL rep; FEMA rep; Generac rep Andy Kacyon. Discussion points: Evacuation orders and the decision-making process. Shelters: When to open and close them, and who should go where. Restoring power. Generator costs, capabilities, usage and safety. Public and private clean-up. Dealing with contractors. Getting help for uninsured losses.

2:30-3 p.m. -- Irma and its effect on the real estate market. Realtors Michael Moulton and Roger Pettingell; appraiser Don Saba. Discussion points: What do hurricanes mean for home values, and what must sellers tell buyers?

___

(c)2017 Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Fla.

Visit Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Fla. at www.heraldtribune.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.