Safety and community spirit took center stage at the 8th Annual Emergency Preparedness Fair in Hays County this past weekend. Organized by the Hays County Office of Emergency Services, in partnership with the City of Kyle, the event drew a lively mix of residents, local first responders, volunteers, and community partners to La Verde Park on Saturday, Sept. 13.
"The 8th Annual Preparedness Fair was a tremendous success thanks to the incredible engagement from our community and our dedicated partners," Hays County OES Director Mike Jones told Hays County News. Interactive exhibits, live music, and a variety of safety demonstrations kept the attendees both entertained and informed as they gathered resources on how to ready themselves for potential disasters.
Among the attractions was the chili-fire of competition at the 3rd Annual Top Dawg Chili Cook-Off, where Phillip Gilreath from Arkansas snagged the first-place spot, barely edging out Kent Cawley by a single point. A notable achievement was made by the ESD 3 South Hays Fire team, who took home third place and the People’s Choice Award while retaining the Top Dawg traveling trophy. The event's proceeds are set to support Hays County firefighters, funding essential training and the replacement of equipment.
Families also had the chance to enjoy tunes by Two Tons of Steel and the Cody Sparks Band during the fair. With over 667 volunteer hours contributed by CERT members and non-CERT volunteers, the fair proved to be a well-supported community effort. Guests had the opportunity to learn life-saving skills like CPR, engage in activities that make safety practices tangible, such as fire extinguisher training, and take part in raffles and a silent auction.
At its core, the Preparedness Fair was a manifestation of Jones's belief that "building resilience starts with awareness," according to Hays County Office, reinforcing the message that collective effort is key in community preparedness for any emergency scenario.
