2nd Annual Emergency Preparedness Fair slated for September

September is Emergency Preparedness Month in Hays County, and community members are invited to celebrate with a free event on Saturday, Sept. 14. 

The Emergency Preparedness Fair will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hays CISD Performing Arts Center, located at 979 Kohler’s Crossing. Throughout the day, various hour-long seminars will prepare attendees for different emergency scenarios. 

On Aug. 27, the Hays County Commissioners court passed a proclamation that declares September as “Emergency Preparedness Month.” The resolution encourages residents to develop and practice emergency plans and have a preparedness kit for homes and vehicles. 

During a presentation to the Court, Hays County Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Mike Jones, said that residents can find more information about preparedness kits at haysinformed.com. 

“As you all know, preparedness is critical to recovery,” Jones said. “The more prepared we are as a community, as a County, the better we can respond and recover from events we find ourselves faced with, whether it be man-made or natural disasters.”

Jones said that the County has trained over 400 individuals in its Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). 

“When we bring people in to train them on preparedness, we’re training them on how to take care of themselves and their neighbors,” Jones said. 

During the Emergency Preparedness Fair, individuals can expect to see first responders from throughout the County, a black hawk helicopter, live music, and several seminars designed to train and prepare citizens. 

According to a press release, “While at the fair, enjoy music from local bands, food, games, and a raffle. Raffle proceeds will go to a local nonprofit recovery organization, the Blanco River Regional Recovery Team (BR3T), which has helped communities recover from the 2015 floods and recently helped survivors of a horrendous apartment fire in San Marcos.”

More information about the preparedness fair is available at Emergency Preparedness fair's website.