Clay County, Kentucky has withstood 6 federally-declared disasters since 2020, all flood related.  The most recent, occurring in February of 2025, left over 14,000 county residents without power.  In an area also struggling with significant food insecurity, educating the community on food safety during emergencies is a priority.

Local agencies and organizations collaborated to bring the community a Health Equity Fair in March of 2025.   The fair was held in an effort to address health disparities and ensuring that all community members have a fair and just opportunity to attain their optimal health.  In that the event was held just a few weeks following another major flooding event in our county, it was an excellent opportunity to present food safety in emergencies education.

Clay County Extension's food safety booth was visited by a total of 122 individuals during the Health Equity Fair, all receiving information relevant to the booth's focus.  28 individuals were interested in receiving more comprehensive education, which was provided.  Of those 28 individuals, 89% reported an increase in knowledge of safe vs. unsafe foods for consumption during emergencies.  Nearly 86% of participants indicated an increase in knowledge of steps that can be taken to optimize food safety during times of emergency.  100% of participants reported plans to utilize information and recommendations received in the event of an emergency.