Preparedness fair huge success

The impending Hurricane Irma only drove home the message that Scotty Johnson and James Brown wanted to bring to those attending the Sixth Annual Coffee County Emergency Preparedness Fair held Sept. 9 at the Enterprise Civic Center.

Johnson is the Coffee County Citizens Emergency Response Team coordinator and Brown is the Coffee County Emergency Management Agency Director. “Be prepared for emergency situations” was the focus of the event that featured displays and demonstrations showing how a few simple steps now can increase safety and emergency preparedness for the future.

“We had a large turnout and it couldn’t have come at a more opportune time,” Johnson said as he surveyed the crowd. “Also this year we had 330 safety posters created by the students in Coffee County Schools. I’m glad I’m not judging the poster contest because all of them are winners in my estimation.”

Brown agreed. “ Getting so many of the kids involved is great,” he said. “We hope this event grows to perhaps become a regional event.”

Johnson said that he and his wife distributed fair fliers at area hotels housing Hurricane Irma evacuees inviting them to attend the safety fair. “Several of them have come,” he said.

Emergency response vehicles and resources, to include the mobile command post, bomb squad, hazardous materials vehicles, sheriff posse, Search and Rescue helicopters, Bloodmobile, Red Cross, United Way, electrical safety, pet preparedness and “Fire Safety House” were on site.