Get Ready, Get Set! Kerr County Plans Emergency Preparedness Expo

Around 50 different vendors and exhibitors all will be located in one spot this Saturday, Sept. 30, to help educate Kerr County citizens and visitors on how to properly prepare for any type of disaster.

The first-ever Kerr County Emergency Preparedness Expo will be held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Happy State Bank Expo Hall at the Hill Country Youth Event Center, 3785 TX-27 in Kerrville. Admission will be free.

“The best way to experience any disaster is to meet it head-on – well prepared and armed with the knowledge of how to deal with certain circumstances,” said Kerr County Emergency Management Coordinator William B. “Dub” Thomas.

His department instigated this new event, which is sponsored by the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office and Hill Country Preppers. Plans are for it to become an annual affair.

“Anyone who is interested is welcome to come out Saturday and visit with the many experts who will be on hand. They have experience and know how to deal with an array of unexpected emergencies. Lucky for us, they want to share their wisdom with others in our community so that we can all benefit from it,” Thomas said.

When the event was first announced in early August, there were around 30 vendors and exhibitors who initially signed on to participate. But, in the ensuing weeks, that list has grown to about 50.

Among those who will be set up at the expo are representatives from: the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Kerrville Public Utility Board (KPUB), the Kerr County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Hill Country Preppers, the Kerrville Police Department, Team Rubicon, Texas Baptist Men, Central Texas Electric Co-Op (CTEC), local volunteer fire departments and others.

“They will be on hand to meet with citizens, answer questions, discuss possible scenarios and inform them on the right way to prepare for, recover from and mitigate the damages of disasters,” Thomas said.

“Whether the disaster you may someday face is natural or caused by humans, you’ll find useful information at this expo,” Thomas said.

Topics are expected to range from how to store emergency food and water to first aid to personal defense to how to continue your business endeavors during hardships and much more.

For more information on the expo, call 830-315-2430 or email Thomas at wthomas@co.kerr.tx.us.