Thousands learn preparedness
Posted on Sunday, April 27, 2008
BENTONVILLE - What started as an idea to better prepare congregation members for an emergency grew to an event that has served thousands of community members.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bentonville hosted its second annual Emergency Preparedness Fair Saturday on the church grounds. This year's fair was twice as big as the first year, with about 75 sponsors and 50 booths, said cocoordinator Travis Larson.
The idea for the first fair came nearly two years ago when the area was hit hard with ice storms. The area Churches of Jesus Christ wanted to help their congregation members be more prepared in case such a disaster happens again. As they did research, they found that the Department of Emergency Management wanted to get a similar message out and that Wal-Mart was teaching a similar message to its associates. So they all joined forces to create the first fair.
After the first fair organizers realized there were so many aspects of emergency preparedness that they wanted to better address this year and plans for this year's fair took off.
"It's a one-stop shop for emergency preparedness," Larson said.
The first 1, 000 people or so to arrive at the fair received a 72-hour kits, which includes items that a person would need in the first 72 hours after a disaster, especially if there was no power. The booths included everything from how to make the kits to how to care for one's pet in an emergency. There was also a booth to share information about how to handle emotional issues in a crisis and after the crisis immediately passes.
Everything - from the lunch food to the items given out at the fair - were entirely donated.
"The community has been absolutely wonderful," Larson said.
Besides the "how-to"type booths, people could also get information from local emergency agencies such as the fire and police departments.
"It brings all the different facets (of emergency preparedness ) together," said officer Guary Morgan with the Bentonville Police Department. "When a disaster happens it takes all of us to deal with it."
Patti Webb, manager of the Petco in Rogers, was on hand to share information about caring for pets.
"Pets are a part of the family," she said. "(Hurricane ) Katrina taught us what can happen (when people have to leave their pets )."
Webb provided information about how to create a 72-hour kit for each pet.
"You need to have a kit ready for your pet just like everyone else in the family," she said.
Jodie Miller and Lanelle Brandkamp both thought the fair was helpful, including learning how to have food stored without much hassle and having documents in a safe, accessible place.
"It's good to know that you have everything in order in case something happens," Miller said.
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