Benton County Sheriff’s Office Hosts Annual Preparedness Fair
Benton County Sheriff’s Office Hosts Annual Preparedness Fair
CORVALLIS, Ore. — September is National Preparedness Month, and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Emergency Management Team invites the community to its annual Preparedness Fair on Sunday, September 7, from 1-5 p.m., at the Philomath Frolic & Rodeo Grounds. The event will run alongside the highly anticipated Public Safety Chili Cook-Off, making it a day full of education, fun, and community spirit.
Admission to the Preparedness Fair is free and located just outside the Chili Cook-Off gates. Families, students, and community members of all ages are encouraged to attend.
The Preparedness Fair offers hands-on opportunities to learn how to prepare for a wide variety of emergencies, including wildfires, floods, earthquakes, winter storms, and extended power outages. Visitors can explore interactive displays, pick up valuable preparedness materials, and meet face-to-face with local emergency response experts.
Featured preparedness topics include:
- Building an emergency “go-kit” for your family, pets, and livestock
- Long-term food and water storage techniques
- Wildfire awareness and home hardening strategies
- Emergency communication and alert systems
- Power outage and utility safety
- Community volunteer opportunities in emergency response
Participating partners include:
- BCSO Marine Patrol
- BCSO Emergency Management Volunteer Corps
- Benton County Community Development
- Corvallis Mountain Rescue Unit
- Oregon Department of Emergency Management
- Oregon State Fire Marshal
- HazAdapt
- Pacific Power
- Oregon Livestock Council
- Oregon Department of Forestry
- Corvallis Emergency Management
- American Red Cross
- City of Philomath Police Department
- Oregon State University Public Safety
Attendees can collect free emergency preparedness swag, resources, and toolkits to take home. In addition, kids will enjoy hands-on activities designed to make learning about safety fun and engaging.
“Disasters can happen anytime, anywhere,” said BCSO Emergency Manager Bryan Lee. “The Preparedness Fair is a chance for residents to gain practical knowledge, connect with experts, and take small but important steps toward keeping their families and neighbors safe.”
The event provides a unique opportunity to prepare while also enjoying the community atmosphere of the Chili Cook-Off, where local agencies compete for the best recipe while raising funds for public safety programs.
