Fairs will promote disaster readiness

Disaster preparedness fairs will be held in both Ewa Beach and Manoa over the next two weekends.

The fourth annual Get Ready Ewa Beach emergency preparedness fair is scheduled for Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ewa Makai Middle School, while the Be Ready Manoa Fair is Sept. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Manoa Valley District Park.

Residents are invited to learn how to be better prepared for the next natural or man-made disaster, and other emergencies like school lockdowns, according to a news release on the Ewa Beach event.

Organizers there will have a scaled-down emergency shelter inside the school for participants to walk through, and will have more than $10,000 worth of disaster preparedness items to give away.

Participating organizations include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, city Department of Emergency Management, TheBus, Hawaiian Electric Co., American Red Cross, Honolulu fire and police departments, and other private and public vendors.

Be Ready Manoa Fair and the Disaster Blaster Challenge are community efforts in Manoa to create awareness and motivation for residents to prepare for natural disasters. The challenge creates a partnership between the community and 10 area schools, including incorporating disaster preparedness into the school curriculum.

Schools, churches and community groups will have booths at the Manoa event, and city, state and federal agencies will also participate. There will also be entertainment.

Be Ready Manoa will share results of its formal community disaster preparedness plan.