Texas Border Business
By Veronica Salinas
The annual Disaster Ready Expo will return to the South Texas College Mid-Valley Campus on Friday, Feb. 20 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., bringing together local, regional and state agencies to promote disaster preparedness, education and community awareness.
Originally launched in 2017 as the Hurricane Expo, the event has been held annually since 2016, pausing only in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The expo was created to provide the community with access to critical information and resources that can help save lives during emergencies.
“We hold this event because we feel this is an important topic for our community,” said Mid-Valley Campus Administrator Daniel Montez. “Every year, there are weather related events that impact thousands if not millions of lives in our country.”
Montez pointed to the recent weather events in Texas as reminders of the importance of preparation. In March 2025, record flooding across parts of the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) resulted in millions of dollars in losses. Just months later, in July 2025, devastating flooding in the Texas Hill Country claimed multiple lives due in part to lack of preparation and evacuation planning.
“As an institution of higher learning, it is important that we invite people from our community to have dialogue on how to prepare for disasters through education and awareness,” Montez said. “Knowing how to access resources and information is key to addressing those issues.”
The event is organized by STC Physical Science faculty member Jeremy Hinck, whose academic background in atmospheric science inspired the initiative.
“My inspiration came from my interest in the weather, as I have a degree in Atmospheric Science,” Hinck said. “As a teacher, I have always taught about the importance of being prepared for disasters, especially those that impact the local community.”
With the support of community partners and campus leadership, including early collaborators KRGV Chief Meteorologist Tim Smith and National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist Barry Goldsmith. Hinck and Montez have worked together to continually expand and strengthen the event.
“We appreciate the participation and interest by all of the exhibitors and speakers that have contributed to the success of this event,” Hinck said.
Some of this year’s participating organizations include Hidalgo County Precinct 1, KRGV-TV, Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council, National Weather Service, Rio Grande Valley 9-1-1 Department, The Salvation Army, Telemundo 40, Texas A&M University, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Weslaco Fire Department, Weslaco Police Department, along with many more.
The Disaster Ready Expo is free and open to students, employees and community members. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with emergency management professionals, learn about disaster response plans and gather valuable preparedness resources.
Through collaboration and education, STC continues its commitment to building a safer, more informed and resilient community.
Information source: STC
