If anybody knows how to crank a business back up after it has been hit by a disaster, it’s Bruce Montesano.

He’s an insurance agent – the face of State Farm in Breaux Bridge – and also a recent victim. His office building was demolished by a tornado in May.

And Montesano, who will speak on “Business Recover After a Disaster – Navigating through Insurance Claims,” is but one of the experts assembled for a free disaster planning seminar geared toward the business community and sponsored by local governments and the Chambers of Commerce.

The seminar will be held in the new Cade Community Center, 1688 Smede Highway, on Thursday, Aug. 7, 8-11 a.m.

KATC-TV’s Rob Perillo will be on hand to give his local insight to predictions for the hurricane season – obviously already in full swing with a named storm in the Gulf.

Emily Trahan of ACCEL Protection & Technologies LLC, Breaux Bridge, will talk about emergency generators.

Two SLEMCO officials, Jim Laque, director of engineering, and Glenn Tamporello, director of operations, look at handling electrical outages.

Chad Theriot of CBM Technologies will speak on “Employee Communications, Redundant Phone Service and Data Transfer to Offsite Location.”

Somebody (as yet unnamed) from Farmers-Merchants Bank will explain what banks can do to help businesses prepare for the worst.

Ricky Hayes of St. Agnes Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center will explain how businesses can help their employees prepare for disaster.

Lt. Col. Larry Landry, St. Martin Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, speaks on “Get a Game Plan – Tank Up Now!”

Breakfast will be available and a limited number of free hurricane emergency preparedness kits will be given out.

Call 394-2200 to RSVP.

Sponsors of the event are Parish Government, the Sheriff’s Office, Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the St. Martin Economic Development Authority, and the St. Martinville and Breaux Bridge Chambers of Commerce.