OLDSMAR, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council announced that Oldsmar is this year’s winner of its “Future of the Region Award for Community Preparedness and Resiliency,” in recognition of the city’s preparation and response to the hurricanes last fall.


What You Need To Know

  • City of Oldsmar wins Regional Award for Hurricane Preparedness

  • Oldsmar residents pledge to do their part this hurricane season

  • Methodist Church is assisting with hurricane recovery nine months later

The award means partners like Community Methodist Church played a pivotal role during and after the hurricanes working alongside the city.

Outreach coordinator Christine Duncan said the work hasn’t stopped.

“The need isn’t as great as it was, but maybe there is one thing that we can take care of that takes one small thing off their plate. Maybe the need is knowing that there is still someone out there thinking about it, and the people that are still needing help,” she said.

Duncan said the partnerships that were so impactful last year are just as strong today.

“We haven’t stopped any of our alliance work. We’re still working with the VFW, and the city of Oldsmar, Life is a Donation, Oldsmar Cares,” she said.

She said Liz Martin, the executive director at Jack’s Village, demonstrated that help isn’t solely about “things” — it’s also about acknowledging the emotional trauma residents experienced.

“The city knew that need is just as important, so they dedicated personnel to be leading that alliance. You know that has become part of her job,” Duncan said.

And Martin said it’s this mutual respect that has made the city so effective.

“We already have a cultural operation system baked into Oldsmar and that is why the alliance was so successful, in my opinion — without practice — because we just jumped at it. When you have city management that recognizes things from a humility perspective, were deep here and we need to activate everyone,” she said.

In addition to support systems, City Manager Felicia Donnell said the city launched a Pledge Program which calls on residents to “pledge” that they will do their part both before, during and after a hurricane.

“It’s really important for a community member and residents to participate in the readiness process and it’s to protect themselves, their own family, their own lives,” she said. 

It also helps protect first responders, who risk their lives protecting them during storms.

When it comes down to it, the award is actually a true reflection of a pledge made by the city, its partners and its residents.