Kentuckians have experienced firsthand how natural disasters can occur any time and often with little warning.  Disasters take many forms, and we can feel their impact across most areas of family life.  Because there is no "one-size-fits-all" disaster model, planning community outreach can be challenging, and Cooperative Extension is often involved in disaster preparation and response at the local level.  

As a result of local needs, the County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences in Marion County partnered with the Heartland Coalition  to present a safety expo, Ready, Set, Go!  The focus of this event was protecting your family and home.  Several community partners were engaged in this event and included Heartland Coalition, Marion County Health Department, Springview Hospital, Communicare, Marion County Sheriff and EMS, Lebanon Police Department, Farm Service Agency, Marion County Emergency Management.  Participants were recruited by yard signs, radio announcements, newsletters, Facebook posts, and flyers posted around town.  100 participated in Ready, Set, Go safety event and attended the vendors booths.  

Following the event, participants completed evaluations.  60% of participants gained a better understanding of steps they could take in preparation of natural disasters.  60% of the participants increased their understanding of how to find reliable resources on disaster preparation and/or response.  Furthermore, 80% of the participants can better identify what items they should include in a disaster kit.  Most importantly, 80% of participants reported they intended to assemble a disaster kit that fits their needs and 40% of the participants shared they intend to create a disaster response plan.

Participants specifically shared the most significant things they learned from the event were how to locate important items if a disaster were to happen.  Participants also reported they appreciated the handouts and give aways from the vendors.