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Oldsmar wins state communications awards for 'Pledge to Evacuate' campaign; Girl Scouts show hurricane‑safety video
Summary
The city received two Florida Municipal Communicators Association honors for a multi‑channel "Pledge to Evacuate" campaign. The awards were presented July 15, and council and the public‑communications team highlighted outreach, a video featuring weather host Mike Bolin and a Girl Scout video on evacuation pledges.
The city of Oldsmar received two awards from the Florida Municipal Communicators Association on July 15 for its hurricane‑preparedness outreach, and local Girl Scouts presented a short video urging residents to take the city’s "Pledge to Evacuate." Deb Vitrelli, the city’s public communications supervisor, accepted the awards and credited the communications team for a campaign that combined social media, print, video and community events.
The campaign’s centerpiece is the online Pledge to Evacuate effort (oldsmarstrong.com) and a short video featuring local weather host Mike Bolin. Bolin told the council he sees the pledge as part of a civic effort to reduce water‑related hurricane deaths: "Ninety percent of all hurricane deaths are water related," he said, urging residents to prepare and leave early when evacuation orders are issued.
Earlier in the meeting, junior Girl Scouts from Troop 1847 — who said they worked on the project as a Bronze Award effort — showed a short, filmed public service announcement that explained evacuation zones and how to find local shelter information on the Pinellas County website. The troop told the council the video was designed to educate residents about evacuation zones, shelters, and how to find resources for people and pets.
City staff and council members praised both the professional campaign and the Girl Scouts’ work. Vitrelli said the campaign was judged on creativity, consistency and community impact and noted the city was one of only 16 governmental agencies in Florida to receive the Certificate of Excellence in Government Communications this year.
Council members said they plan to extend the campaign’s outreach and incorporate the Girl Scouts’ video into city channels; staff said the pledge materials and new video will appear on the city web pages and social channels during the hurricane season.
