Storm season prep opportunities are coming up for local families

With hurricane season less than two months away, Edgewater residents have two nearby opportunities on April 18 to get ready: Volusia County’s Hurricane Expo in Daytona Beach and a Tire Amnesty event in New Smyrna Beach. While neither event is in Edgewater itself, both offer practical value for households across South Volusia that want to prepare before summer weather becomes more active.

The county’s Hurricane Expo is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the pavilion area of Daytona International Speedway, 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd. Organizers say the free, family-friendly event will focus on emergency alerts, evacuation planning, property protection, and other steps residents can take before a storm is on the radar. More than 50 vendors, community organizations, and government agencies involved in hurricane preparedness and response are expected to participate.

According to the event information, attendees can expect live safety demonstrations, educational presentations, and guest speakers. Families will also be able to visit a Touch-A-Truck area featuring fire, EMS, law enforcement, and utility vehicles. County officials said more than 1,500 people attended the previous expo, underscoring the strong local interest in storm readiness as the Atlantic season approaches.

Also on April 18, the Volusia County Mosquito Control Division will host a Tire Amnesty event from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its headquarters, 801 South St. in New Smyrna Beach. The drive-thru event allows residents to dispose of unwanted tires at no cost. Each household may bring up to 20 tires, but the tires must be removed from rims, and only residential tires will be accepted.

For Edgewater residents, the tire drop-off has a direct neighborhood benefit. Discarded tires can collect standing water and become breeding sites for mosquitoes, especially as warmer and wetter months arrive. Participants must show proof of Volusia County residency, such as a driver’s license or other government-issued identification. Commercial tires and tires from auto shops will not be accepted.

County officials noted that more than 1,600 tires were collected during the last Tire Amnesty event in January. Residents looking for more information about mosquito control can visit the county’s mosquito program website to request service, review planned spraying maps, and sign up for treatment notifications. Additional details on the Hurricane Expo are available through Volusia County’s emergency management resources.