The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tehachapi hosted an Emergency Preparedness Community Faire for the public on Sept. 16. It was a great success, and well attended.

Attendees learned important disaster-related information from presentations by the Tehachapi Police Department and the American Red Cross. Skills were shared by organizations such as Kern County Public Health, the Tehachapi Amateur Radio Association and other experts in various topics such as water storage and filtering, 72-hour kits, alternative power, sheltering in place, and more.

As part of the coinciding National Day of Service, free hygiene kits were handed out to attendees, and a hot dog lunch. The day was wrapped up with a free drawing for various preparedness related items as prizes which were donated by Big 5, Tractor Supply, Home Depot and Wendy Finley-Blackburn of Berkshire-Hathaway Realty. We look forward to hosting this event annually.

Timaree Torres is a community outreach specialist for the LDS Church.