Tampa Republic

The City of Tampa is hosting a virtual town hall themed "Stormwater 101" to prepare for the approaching storm season. The event, taking place on April 16th from 6:00-7:00 PM, will outline measures the Stormwater Department is undertaking for hurricane preparedness.

The session will include a detailed presentation about the department's efforts, covering maintenance activities, equipment readiness, and newly implemented resilience strategies. Following the overview, a Q&A session will allow the community to engage with experts. Attendance is complimentary, but registration is required through Tampa.gov/register, where residents can also submit questions.

The panel at the event features Vik Bhide, Mobility Director; Bryan Rodger, Mobility Operations Manager; Yuan Li, Stormwater Engineering Manager; and Jeff DeBosier and Alex Awad, both Stormwater Engineers IV. They will focus on efforts such as rigorous 6-day-per-week maintenance operations, installing backup generators, and other targeted improvements like ongoing projects in Palma Ceia Pines and Parkland Estates.

The city urges community participation to better understand the methods being employed for storm resilience. The invitation is also open to media representatives, who can register and submit questions to be addressed after resident queries, by providing their name and outlet.

The town hall reflects the city's proactive approach amidst forecasts of an unusually active storm season, aiming to ensure Tampa's safety and resilience.

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