Manatee emergency officials: start preparing now for hurricane season

Although hurricane season is more than three months away, emergency officials say residents and businesses should start preparing for a potentially damaging storm now.

On Wednesday, about 40 people participated in a Manatee Chamber of Commerce seminar, “Hurricane Irma: Lessons Learned.”

“To be responsible business owners, we need to be prepared,” Chamber President Jacki Dezelski told them.

Phill Baker, vice president of Boyd Insurance & Investment Services, recommended that property owners make certain in advance that they have adequate insurance. Once a storm approaches, they will be unable to get coverage.

“At that point, it doesn’t matter,” Baker said. “We are shut down for insurance.”