By Megan Wehring
HAYS COUNTY -- The Hays County Office of Emergency Services (OES) is hosting its annual Emergency Preparedness Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11. at the Hays CISD Performing Arts Center.
This event is geared toward offering the community an opportunity to learn about being prepared for most emergencies.
As part of the fair’s opening ceremonies, which will begin at 9:30 a.m., U.S. military veterans will lead the crowd in a moment of silence in remembrance of those lives lost on 9/11. The Hays County High School Band will play taps and shortly after, a Blackhawk helicopter will land near the site.
The preparedness fair begins at 10 a.m. Attendees can expect to take important classes, learn how to make a preparedness kit and hear from experts about how to be ready to face most any emergency. They can also learn about the county’s emergency alert system, talk to first respondersband find out more about the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) – an organization comprised of Hays County volunteers.
Classes offered during the fair include: Stop the Bleed (tourniquets); Citizen Response Active Shooter Events (CRASE); CPR take 10, FireWise (Wildland Fire Home Preparation), Standard Response Protocol (SRP) business and school response for sheltering in place and evacuations.
The fair also features a silent auction and a raffle. OES Coordinator Michelle Villegas said the public can bid on the auction items on the Bidding Owl website: https://www.biddingowl.com/Auction/home.cfm?auctionID=23130.
“We received many fantastic donations from more than 20 local businesses for this auction,” she said. “Seeing all the community support is so encouraging. We’re truly humbled by their desire to help.”
Villegas added people can also buy raffle tickets for the baskets that will be on display during the fair, including several donated by Hays County employees. Tickets are $1 for five, three for $15 and six for $20. The drawing is at 3:45 p.m.
“Our hope is that community members will bid on the items and buy raffle tickets to help raise the money that will be donated to two local organizations,” she said.
Silent auction proceeds benefit the Hays County Fire Chiefs Association. Raffle basket proceeds benefit BR3T.
For more information about the Hays County Emergency Preparedness Fair, visit haysinformed.com.
