Mayor Tyler Will Be There!

We are pleased to announce that the mayor of Muncie, Indiana, will be attending the Muncie Community Preparedness Fair!

Mayor Dennis Tyler, who began his first term as mayor in January of this year, will be in Heartland Hall at the Delaware County Fairgrounds on Saturday, September 15, 2012, to kick off the preparedness fair.

We have also been told he will also be issuing a mayoral proclamation about the event and emergency preparedness.

So come on out to the Muncie Community Preparedness Fair on Saturday, September 15, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Heartland Hall at the Delaware County Fairgrounds!

No Power? How Do I Cook Food?!

Power outages seem to be something we deal with a lot in the Muncie area, and it is usually as a result of some kind of weather. Because the weather - along with its occasionally accompanying power outages - is unpredictable, it is important to familiarize ourselves with another subject that will be covered at the Muncie Community Preparedness Fair:

Alternative heat and/or cooking sources

The first thing I think of when it comes to surviving an emergency is how I will be able to eat. Then again, that's pretty much my first thought in any potential scenario, so it is really important to know what I can and can't use during a power outage or another kind of crisis.

What can you cook with? How do you store alternative sources for cooking when they are not being used? Is there a proper way to use these items? How can you prepare yourself for a power outage?

Come to the Muncie Community Preparedness Fair on Saturday, September 15, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to find out! We will be in Heartland Hall at the Delaware County Fairgrounds.

But if you can't make it or wait until then, the American Red Cross has a lot of great information about how to prepare yourself for a power outage.

Did you know a lot of disaster shelters don't permit pets inside of them?

If you don't know where to take your pets in the case of a catastrophe that leaves you, your loved ones, and your furrier loved ones without a home, what will you do?

One of the informative booths at the Muncie Community Preparedness Fair will deal with proper pet care during times of crisis. The Fair will take place on Saturday, September 15, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Red Cross website is also a good resource for these important topics.

72-Hour Kits

We often get discouraged about planning for different crises, because we think it involves too much work or preparation. Maybe we get overwhelmed by all we think would be involved. However, some basic emergency preparedness things don't involve too much work, but would be very valuable if you ever needed it.

A 72-hour kit would give you everything you'd need for a three-day period. Chances are, if a catastrophe strikes, it won't be Armageddon. Being prepared to survive  for three days can keep you alive or in good condition until you are able to be located or saved. It doesn't have to be catastrophe either. Sometimes we find ourselves needing to stretch a few extra days until payday. Using the food/items we packed in the 72-hour kit can meet our needs until we get paid.

The best website I have seen for guiding you through the process building your own 72-hour kit is www.72hours.org. There, you will find all sorts of helpful information to help you prepare your kit.

It's a small thing, but it can go a long way.

Where is my money going?

One aspect of emergency preparedness involves the household finances. Sometimes we get to the end of a paycheck cycle or month and find ourselves wondering where all of money went. While the above comic strip may have a more pessimistic view on tracking the household expenses, it can save individuals a significant amount of money.

Today we want to highlight a very important budgeting tool for a household's financial success and preparation. This "Where is my money going?" calculator provides a way for you to keep tabs on where your money is going.

Why using this calculator can help:

• If we know where our money is going, we'll know if we are overspending.
• If we know what our money is being spent on, we know where we can make changes.
• If we make those changes, we can save money to reach financial goals such as paying off loans or other obligations more quickly.

Click here to try it out!

2012 MUNCIE COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS FAIR

What: Muncie Community Preparedness Fair

When: Saturday, September 15, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: In Heartland Hall at the Delaware County Fairgrounds

Cost: FREE!

The Muncie Community Preparedness Fair is an annual event that gives members of the Muncie community an opportunity to learn helpful skills and information to use in times of crisis - whether a community crisis or a personal one. The fair will include demonstrations, a blood drive, and informational booths on 72-hour kits, pet care, employment, preparing family/children for emergencies and more!

Fair Booths

Some expected booths at this years fair include:

72 Hour Kits
Financial Planning
Canning
Gathering a Year's Supply of Food

There are many other booths and demonstrations planned. We will update the site as information becomes available.

We would love any suggestions you might have about possible booths. Please leave suggestions in the comments section.

6th Annual Muncie Preparedness Fair (It's Free!)

The 6th Annual Free Muncie Preparedness Fair is coming soon!

On September 26, 2009
10:00 -2:00 pm
at the Delaware County Fairgrounds

Everyone is invited to come and learn about ways to be prepared for disasters, economic downturns, and life in general.

We hope to see you there.