PINELLAS PARK – The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council is launching Project Phoenix, an initiative designed to help small businesses prepare for a worst-case hurricane scenario.
The program combines a Category 5 hurricane video simulation with interactive tabletop training exercises, offering participants a scenario-based experience that explores the impacts of a catastrophic storm making landfall in the Tampa Bay region.
Business owners and emergency managers are guided through critical decision-making processes, from immediate response to long-term recovery.
The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council will host six countywide training exercises across the region from April 20 through May 1.
Small businesses are invited to the Pasco County Project Phoenix Tabletop Exercise from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 27 at the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, 10370 Charles Bo Harrison Way, Land O’ Lakes.
Additional sessions will take place:
- April 20 in Hillsborough County at the Hillsborough County Children’s Board, 1002 E. Palm Ave., Tampa
- April 22 in Pinellas County at the Pinellas Emergency Operations Center, 10750 Ulmerton Road, Largo
- April 24 in Manatee County at the Manatee Emergency Operations Center, 2101 47th Terrace E., Bradenton
- April 29 in Citrus County at the Citrus Emergency Operations Center, 3549 Saunders Way, Lecanto
- May 1 in Hernando County at the Hernando Emergency Operations Center, 18900 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville
Register for these sessions at phoenix.tbrpc.org.
Tabletop exercises walk participants through four key recovery phases:
- One day later, focusing on immediate impacts and damage assessment
- One week later, addressing short-term recovery operations
- One to six months later, centered on long-term recovery planning
- One year later, emphasizing full recovery and resilience building.
Throughout the training, participants evaluate business continuity plans, emergency communications, staffing challenges and financial recovery strategies, while also learning from real-world experiences of business owners affected by recent hurricanes, including Helene and Milton.
The initiative aims to strengthen the resilience of small businesses by increasing their understanding of how local governments respond to hurricanes and how recovery unfolds. It also helps emergency managers better understand the challenges faced by small businesses during major disasters. This improved communication is intended to enhance coordination between government agencies and the business community.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our regional economy, but many are not fully prepared for a catastrophic storm,” said Wren Krahl, executive director of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. “Project Phoenix helps business owners visualize the risks and, more importantly, equips them with the tools to recover quickly and reopen.”
To enhance realism, the simulation video includes stories and lessons learned from Tampa Bay officials and businesses impacted by the 2024 hurricanes Helene and Milton. A trailer for the simulation is available at youtube.com/@TampaBayRPC, with the full video set to debut during the tabletop exercises.
