Built America Magazine | South
Public engagement is another essential part of the county’s preparedness efforts. “We emphasize year-round awareness campaigns to help people understand the risks,” says Litton. “We want to encourage residents to prepare ahead of time rather than waiting until the last minute when a storm is approaching.” Community Events and Economic Resilience Community events play an essential role in Osceola County’s economic growth and recovery efforts. Major gatherings like the Osceola County Fair and large- scale music festivals attract thousands of visitors and provide a significant economic boost to local businesses. However, balancing these events with disaster response efforts requires careful planning. “After Hurricane Ian, we had a major country music festival scheduled at Osceola Heritage Park,” Litton recalls. “That venue is also one of our designated recovery sites for emergency sheltering and disaster relief. We had to find a way to accommodate both, and we did. The festival went on as planned while we continued to support recovery operations.” The ability to adapt and find solutions has been key to Osceola’s success, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We used Osceola Heritage Park as a drive-through testing site, and later transitioned to using churches and other community spaces for vaccine distribution,” says Litton.
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