United Way of Southwest Alabama and Verizon invite the community to the 2026 Disaster Resilience Forum featuring renowned meteorologist James Spann this Saturday, August 15, at the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf Coast in Mobile.

The forum is free and open to the public. Doors open at 9 a.m., and the program begins at 9:30 a.m. Registration is requested.

Spann is an AMS Certified Meteorologist, Chief Meteorologist at ABC 33/40, and founder of the Alabama Weather Network, and host of the long running WeatherBrains podcast. With decades of experience covering severe weather in Alabama, Spann has built a career around helping people understand weather threats and make informed decisions when severe weather strikes. The Alabama Weather Network extends that work through continuous, locally focused weather information and severe weather coverage across the state.

The forum will also feature Madeleine Dotson, Resilience Manager for the City of Mobile. Dotson works to strengthen the city’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies through planning and partnerships with public agencies and community organizations.

Dotson will lead “Ready or Not?” an interactive hurricane preparedness session presented with the City of Mobile, Mobile County Emergency Management Agency, and the University of South Alabama. Participants will consider how prepared they are before a storm and learn practical steps for building an emergency kit, staying connected, identifying evacuation routes, and planning for recovery.

Attendees will also have opportunities to receive free disaster preparedness kits and win other prizes.

EVENT DETAILS

Saturday, August 15, 2026
Program begins at 9:30 a.m. (Doors open at 9 a.m.)
National Maritime Museum of the Gulf Coast
Free and open to the public
Registration requested

Register today: https://uw-verizonresilienceforum.eventbrite.com

The Disaster Resilience Forum is part of United We Prepare, the disaster resilience initiative supported by United Way and Verizon to help communities build the knowledge, resources, and connections needed to prepare for emergencies. United Way of Southwest Alabama continues this work throughout Mobile County through public education, preparedness events, and disaster preparedness resources. The forum is part of United Way of Southwest Alabama’s 2026 preparedness work.

For more information about United Way of Southwest Alabama’s disaster preparedness efforts, visit https://UnitedWayStormReady.com.