Andrea Galabinski Good Shepherd Disaster Team Leader Gary Olson with Disaster Plan information prepared for seminar.

Last year, a diverse group, including local emergency response officials, county and state representatives, and even a top local meteorologist gave crucial information at an informative Emergency Preparedness Seminar to local residents at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church.

This year, the same type of free seminar will be presented on Tuesday, April 13, at 2 p.m.

“This is our second annual Emergency Preparedness Seminar,” said Good Shepherd Disaster Team Leader Gary Olson. “It was so successful last year we decided to make it an annual event.”

Returning this year are North Fort Myers Fire Chief Terry Pye, Lee County Emergency Management official Terry Kelly, Pastor Tom Willets and Olson. Last year WINK TV meteorologist Brian Monahan appeared, this year WINK’s meteorologist Scott Zedeker will speak, along with Terry Cerullo from the Florida Department of Financial Services.

For those who attended last year, they know the program is full of information on hurricane and disaster preparedness, on a state, county and more importantly local level.

Olson, a local artist, was also a disaster coordinator in the past for Heron’s Glen. He and his committee have prepared a wealth of information for local residents, both from the county and for local interest to North Fort Myers.

“The Methodist Churches are required to have a disaster plan,” Olson said, “Part of that is to prepare specific information to the area. This is a community plan, and a community event.”

His team includes Pastor Tom Willets, Dutch Hess, Judy Greenstreet, Linda Lindquist, Ron Stevens, Bill Bowden, Dick Smalley, Judy Stephenson, Roy St. Onge, John Henderson and Les Stern, who all helped to gather information and speakers for the event.

Pastor Willets was an interesting speaker last year because he was heavily involved with Hurricane Andrew while in Miami, and will again relate his experiences then.

Pye will offer his local information on preparedness, as well as a question-and-answer period.

Zedeker will offer his professional expertise for the event, and Terry Cerillo will talk about insurance issues as a representative of the state, among other concerns.

County emergency information will be available, along with a very specific local plan prepared by the Good Shepherd committee.

“The county information will have Lee County evacuation information, but we will also distribute specific North Fort Myers evacuation information, which is different,” said Olson.

Information will include everything from local shelter lists, survival checklists to what to do with your pet in case of emergency.

The seminar is free and open to the public. No reservation is required.

Good Shepherd United Methodist Church is located at 2951 Trail Dairy Cir. For information call the church at 543-2686.