Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Good Reasons to Prepare

Can you think of an emergency that could occur in our area that might be worth preparing for? Sunday night in the greater Atlanta area, a preparedness fireside was held for the Single Adults (lucky ducks!). A couple from Idaho who had lived through the Teton Dam disaster spoke of their experience. Learning from other people's experiences is the smartest idea known to man or beast. Attendees heard the couple speak of their young son's prayer that their home would be spared. That prayer was answered, but they were still part of thousands who were forced to evacuate - with no notice. The police arrived on their doorstep and said, "Do not pack. Get out of town now."

What would you do?

I hope you would grab your 72-Hour kit and get in the car. The kit would have been thoughtfully prepared months or even years earlier. The food inside would be sufficient to sustain your family for at least 3 days. There would be extra clothes for everyone and an emergency radio. Toothbrushes and waterproof matches, medicines and an extra pair of glasses for your 6 year old. Each family member would have bedding and something "to do" in those boring down times during a crisis. A few other important items could be found in your kit that especially apply to your family. Nothing in the kit is fancy, but it would get you comfortably through those first few days when stress is high and resources are nonexistent. And you would have at least half a tank of gas in the car at all times to get you on the road to safety.
A 72-Hour kit is just the beginning of preparedness, but those who heard the fireside talks Sunday night left there thinking, "I need to check my kit."
This weekend, the 2011 Grand Blanc Emergency Preparedness Fair offers you an opportunity to learn about what is necessary in those first 72 hours after a catastrophe and so very much more. Come to the fair and do something to increase your preparedness, now.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Free at the Fair

Besides all that great knowledge you'll be gaining at this year's fair, you'll have a few tangible take-aways too. Rep. Kevin Daley (R-Lum) will be distributing Michigan maps. Remember those? Folding paper with red and blue lines and lots of dots... we all used them before GPS. You remember now! Well if you find yourself in a real disaster, you might also find yourself without satellite service, meaning no GPS. You might also find that your regular route is impassible. Won't it be handy to have an old fashioned, fully-up-to-date, folding map of the mitten in your car kit? It will be wonderful! Stop by Rep. Daley's booth and get prepared.

Friday, May 6, 2011

The List is Growing!

We're thrilled to announce that 2 more groups will be joining the Fair.

Boy Scouts of America Troop #214
presenting
Pet Preparedness * Basic First Aid * Trash Can Potatoes

and

Lapeer County Emergency Medical Service (EMS)
Come see the inside of an ambulance without going for a ride!

Lapeer EMS is a returning crew and we're so glad to have them back. BSA Troop #214 is the most ambitious group of boys we've ever heard of! Thanks to both groups for joining the Fair. We'll see you all on May 21st.

Monday, May 2, 2011

It's a Community Event

Here's a shout out to all the great community organizations that are a part of the Fair. Most of them are return participants and big favorites of Fair attendees, especially the younger ones who live to sit in a big red fire engine. (Forty-one is young!)

C.E.R.T. - Community Emergency Response Team

Lapeer City Fire Department

Lapeer County Sheriff's Department

State Representative Daley (R-Lum)

Lapeer County Amateur Radio

Lapeer County Health Department

Red Cross

LDS Family Services

Boy Scouts of America

This is a community full of terrific resources and we're thrilled to have each of them be part of the Emergency Preparedness Fair. It takes all of us, working together, to be prepared. Let's get together and succeed.

2011 Fair Booths

Here is an up-to-the-minute (as of 9:14 PM tonight :-) list of booths and topics at this year's Emergency Preparedness Fair. There's lots to see and learn so come early and wear comfortable shoes. You don't want to miss anything.


Alternative Cooking Methods
Emergency Childbirth
Lapeer County Health Dept
State Maps provided by State Representative Kevin Daley
Touch for Health & Home Remedies
Car Kits & Auto Preparedness

Medicines During a Crisis
Shelter in Place
Gardening/Small Space Gardening
Home Food Storage
Personal Protection
Natural Disasters with 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake Survivor
Red Cross Blood Drive

Kid Kits & Elderly ID Kits with Iris Scans
Amateur Radio
Heart Attack Preparedness
Shelf Reliance
Water Storage & Purification
72 Hour Kits
Personal Document Binders
Family Emergency Plans
Homemade Soaps
Wills/Estates/Powers of Attorney
Wheat & Seed Sprouting
Double Barrel Stoves
Sparky the Fire Dog & the Lapeer City Fire Department
Emotional Preparedness

Many thanks to these groups for their 
additional support of the Fair
Burton Ward - After Fair Clean Up
Clarkston Ward - Door Prizes
Grand Blanc Ward - Blood Drive Support
Fair Greeters
Boy Scout Troop #349 - Parking & Sundry Support

Friday, April 29, 2011

Who's Coming to the Fair?

Besides you? Here's a list of booths you'll find at the Fair. Plan to arrive early and pace yourself because there's a lot do. Is there something missing from your preparedness arsenal? A skill you are especially interested in? Start there and work your way through the building to learn about...


Family Emergency Plans - What your family should do when disaster strikes.
Home Food Storage - What to store, how much and for how long.
Touch for Health & Home Remedies - Health beyond the M.D.
Shelters-in-Place - Stuck happily at home.
Car Kits - Safely stranded because you're prepared and mobile, too
Wills, Estates, Powers of Attorney - It's the law.
Alternative Cooking Methods - You gotta eat.
Emergency Childbirth - Babies come. They don't know about the storm.
Lapeer Co Amateur Radio - Communication, anytime!
EMT - Get to know your community responders.
Small Space Gardening - You can grow food, no excuses.
CERT - Who are the volunteers in a crisis?
Personal Documents - What you need and why.
Financial Preparedness - Money isn't everything, but it's handy.
Personal Protection - You're all you've got. Take care.
Red Cross Blood Drive - Give often. (or every 8 weeks, whichever comes first.)
Double Barrel Ovens - A whole new kind of hot.
Homemade Soaps - Prepared, clean, happy people.
Shelf Reliance - Explore new resources.
72 Hour Kits - It really will take 3 days before help arrives.


This is going to be a great education.

2011 Emergency Preparedness Fair

The 3rd Annual Grand Blanc Stake Emergency Preparedness Fair is just weeks away now!
Plan to bring your family and friends to this incredible community resource.

May 21, 2011
1-4PM
LDS Church Building
3080 Oregon, Lapeer, MI 48446

At the Fair, be sure to visit the Red Cross Blood Drive
(Officially open from 10AM - 3:45PM the day of the Fair)