As the 2009 hurricane season quickly approaches, Indian River Mall will host its annual "Hurricane Expo" on Sat., June 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free-to-the-public event, presented in partnership with Family Insurance Services and Treasure & Space Coast Radio and sponsored in part by Extreme Shutters and Scripps Newspapers, will prepare local residents for hurricane season with tips from NBC 5 Chief Meteorologist Steve Weagle, safety demonstrations, product displays and the first-ever Hurricane Recipe Cook-Off.

"Indian River Mall is excited to offer its shoppers the most up-to-date information about hurricane hazards and provide knowledge that can be used to take action before, during and after a storm," said David Silver, general manager at Indian River Mall. "This expo is another wonderful example of our commitment to the safety and welfare of our shoppers, visitors and tenants, which is always our foremost concern."

Event attendees will learn how to prepare for and track hurricanes with tips from NBC 5 Chief Meteorologist Steve Weagle. Weagle is a member of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and holds the organization's CBM seal, the highest level of recognition awarded to television meteorologists. CBS 12's Craig Davenport, The Breeze 97.3's Hamp Elliot and WTTB 1490's Bob Soos will also be on hand to offer hurricane preparedness information to Vero Beach residents.

Attendees will also enjoy the first-ever Hurricane Recipe Cook-Off, showcasing fun, innovative dishes local residents have created as good eats during and after a hurricane. Participants will display their hurricane-friendly dishes, with common foods found in your refrigerator, freezer or cabinet, which have been created without the use of electricity. Judges will select the winner of the competition based on the dish that ranks highest in taste, originality, ease of preparation and appearance. Winners will receive gift cards from local restaurants, retailers and more. The contest will kick-off at 1 p.m. at the food court.

"This is a great chance to showcase some of the tasty meals we can enjoy when waiting for power to be restored and grocery stores to reopen after a hurricane," Silver said.

The "Hurricane Expo" will also feature companies and organizations that will educate families on hurricane preparedness and offer different products and techniques to protect families, property, pets and more in the event of a hurricane. Participating companies such as the Porch Factory will provide information on restoring properties to pre-loss conditions, while organizations such as the American Red Cross and Salvation Army provide free informational guides on how to prepare and stay safe during a storm.

Additional participating organizations include 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast , AAA Insurance, Blue Ribbon Boarding & Grooming, Broward Factory Service, Christian FM, Complete Electric, East Coast Shutters, Extreme Shutters, Florida Department of Financial Services, Florida Shutters, Indian River Solid Waste District, Marquis Insurance, Mental Health Association, Oslo Urgent Care, Ruben's Tree & Lawn Service, Southern Self Storage, Treasure Coast Humane Society, United Way, U.S. Generator, Vero Beach Amateur Radio Club, VOAD, Well Med and more.

For more information on Indian River Mall's "Hurricane Expo" or to get involved the first-ever Hurricane Recipe Cook-Off, call 772.770.9404 or visit www.indian-river-mall.com.

About Indian River Mall
Indian River Mall is located on State Road 60 at 66 th Avenue and is managed by Simon Property Group, Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Indian River Mall is a single-level regional mall anchored by Macy's, Dillard's, JCPenney and Sears and has over 80 specialty stores.

About Simon Property Group
Simon Property Group, Inc. is an S&P 500 company and the largest public U.S. real estate company. Simon is a fully integrated real estate company which operates from five retail real estate platforms: regional malls, Premium Outlet Centers®, The Mills®, community/lifestyle centers and international properties. It currently owns or has an interest in 386 properties comprising 262 million square feet of gross leasable area in North America, Europe and Asia. The Company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and employs more than 5,000 people worldwide. Simon Property Group, Inc. is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol SPG. For further information, visit the Company's website at www.simon.com.