Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense once again helping West Hawaiʻi be disaster ready

Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense invites the Big Island community to increase its awareness about disaster preparation with the return of an upcoming event in Kailua-Kona.

The agency is hosting its first West Hawaiʻi Disaster Preparedness Fair in several years this weekend, slated from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 20 at Kekuaokalani Gymnasium.

Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense regularly conducts Disaster Preparation Fairs around the island but — in part because of prior COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings — the last fair in Kailua-Kona was in 2019.

“We’re excited to be back in West Hawaiʻi to answer questions and share information to help our community prepare,” said Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno in the announcement. “Whether we face a tsunami, fire, hurricane or some other hazard, the information shared at the Disaster Preparation Fair can help make us all safer.”

The Sept. 20 fair will feature a wide array of emergency response agencies and partners offering information and resources to build community resilience.

There also will be food trucks, demonstrations, prizes and meal giveaways, interactive displays, live broadcasts by KWXX and a chance to talk story about emergency preparedness and disaster response.

“Many residents have questions about how to get prepared, and the fair is a great place to learn,” said Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda in the county’s annoucement about the upcoming fair. “By becoming better prepared as households and communities, our whole island will be more resilient when a disaster strikes.”

Kekuaokalani Gymnasium is located at 75-5500 Kuakini Highway in Kailua-Kona.

Visit the Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense website for additional information.