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 impacts 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 Bluegrass Area Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences in Bourbon, Clark, Estill, Powell, Nicholas, Scott, Harrison, Madison, and Fayette Counties hosted workshops in each of the counties through partnering with a fellow agent. Marketing was created to encourage attendees to attend any of the nine meetings that occurred on various days throughout September, which is recognized Nationally as Disaster Preparedness Month. This allowed access to various times, dates, and locations that allowed participants to visit the workshop that fit their location and schedule. This event focused on food and water safety, as well as how to protect your family and home before, during, and after a disaster strikes. Several community partners were engaged in this event and included county emergency management directors and the Bluegrass Medical Reserve Corp speaking in various counties involved.  Participants were recruited by newsletter outreach, social media marketing, and local newspaper articles. 

Following the event, a total of 160 participants completed evaluations. 100% of participants gained a better understanding of steps they could take in preparation of natural disasters. 100% of participants increased their understanding of how to find reliable resources on disaster preparation and/or response. Further, 100% of participants can better identify what items they should include in a disaster kit. Most importantly, 160 of participants left with an assembled disaster kit complete with NOAA radio, solar charger, fire/waterproof document bag, matches, manual can opener, gallon pitcher, measuring spoons, whistle, safety blanket poncho, and multi-functional tool. Bluegrass Area FCS Agents saw the importance of getting these kits into the homes of their clientele and offered the kits at a discounted rate of $20 even though the tote and contents were valued at $75. 100% of participants stated that they would modify their pre-assembled tote to fit their needs and 100% of participants shared they intend to create a disaster response plan. 

Participants specifically shared the most significant things they learned from the event were……. 

1. “I had no idea that in the event of a flood, we could make safe drinking water using bleach!”
2. “I plan to make copies of important documents to put in my fireproof holder in case we have a fire or flood”
3. “Excellent training and should be offered regularly!”
4. “I plan to spread this information to all my family, friends, and church members!”
5. “This program was so informative on how to prepare for all of the situations that life throws at us.”
6. “More consideration for elderly mother’s needs.”
7. “It made me aware of resources available that I didn’t know about-plus gave me lots of information on how to prepare.”
8. “Need to inventory and photograph for insurance. I never realized there were so many things to consider for being prepared.”
9. “Thank you for providing this class!”
10. “Helped to ease my anxiety”

With the arrival of the recent tropical storm, the event timing was impeccable and further reinforced the importance of this program. Many reached out to us even more grateful for the opportunity to be prepared “In the Face of Disaster” due to being without power and the solar charging NOAA radio coming in handy. Another attendee from an event last year who was located in South Carolina during this event, expressed her gratitude for having her kit thanks to a program she took back in her hometown of Kentucky while visiting.