Local Agencies Host Fair to Prepare West Contra Costa County for Disasters

What:        West Contra Costa County Emergency Preparedness Fair
Where:        J.C. Penney Parking Lot at the Hilltop Mall in Richmond,   2200 Hilltop Mall Road
When:        Date Saturday, September 26
Time         10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Richmond, Calif., To help Contra Costa residents prepare for natural and man-made disasters, more than 30 local agencies will host a free day of emergency preparedness activities this month at the West Contra Costa County Emergency Preparedness Fair at the Hilltop Mall in Richmond. The fair is part of National Preparedness Month events aimed to prepare residents for a major disaster.

The fair will be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, September 26 in the J.C. Penney parking lot at the Hilltop Mall in Richmond, located at 2200 Hilltop Mall Road.

“For West County to be truly prepared for an emergency, each resident must have a plan and know how to respond,” said event co-chair Kathryn Gerk of the Richmond Fire Department’s Office of Emergency Services. “People need to start thinking about what they would do in the event of a catastrophic earthquake, fire or disease outbreak—all of which are very real possibilities in our county.”

Participating agencies, including local fire, police and health departments, as well as businesses, will promote emergency preparedness through presentations, live demonstrations, hands-on activities and informational brochures. The fair is free for all ages and will feature pandemic flu preparedness, a raffling of emergency kits, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake simulation, finger printing, a mobile blood drive, CPR training, children activities and pet microchips for a small fee.

Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia, whose office is helping to coordinate the event, said the fair is a great opportunity for the residents in his district.

“We’re excited to have these leaders in emergency preparedness come together in one location and distribute life-saving information that will put West Contra Costa County in a greater state of preparedness,” Supervisor Gioia said.

The West County Emergency Preparedness Fair will help residents prepare for a major disaster by learning how to build an emergency supply kit, making a disaster plan and becoming more involved in preparing their communities.

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For more information:

Terrance Cheung
Chief of Staff
Office of Supervisor John Gioia   |   Contra Costa County
11780 San Pablo Avenue, Suite D   |   El Cerrito, CA  94530
(510) 374-3231 - Office   |   (510) 374-3429 - Fax   | (415) 990-2087 - Cell
terrance.cheung@bos.cccounty.us
webpage: www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/depart/dis1