September is National Preparedness Month, and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, or BCSO, is inviting the community to its, well, aptly named, Preparedness Fair. Because timely is a thing, of course. And, and this no small thing. The event runs alongside the always loved Public Safety Chili Cook-Off. Look, hundreds of people show-up for the cook-off every year because the chili is, dare we say, criminally sublimely tasty. Seriously, it really is quite good.
The shindig is set for Sunday, September 7, from 1 to 5 pm at the Philomath Frolic & Rodeo Grounds.
The Preparedness Fair is free of charge. The Chili Cook-Off is $10 for ages 12 and up, and $5 for kids under 12. You can skip the line and prepurchase tickets online. Adult beverages will also be available for purchase. This year’s cook-off proceeds will go to the 4-Spirits Veterans Scholarship Fund.
About the Preparedness Fair
The Preparedness Fair offers hands-on opportunities to learn how to prepare for a wide variety of emergencies, including wildfires, floods, earthquakes, winter storms, and extended power outages. Visitors can explore interactive displays, pick up valuable preparedness materials, and meet face-to-face with local emergency response experts.
Attendees can collect free emergency preparedness swag, resources, and toolkits to take home. In addition, kids will enjoy hands-on activities designed to make learning about safety fun and engaging.
“Disasters can happen anytime, anywhere,” said BCSO Emergency Manager Bryan Lee. “The Preparedness Fair is a chance for residents to gain practical knowledge, connect with experts, and take small but important steps toward keeping their families and neighbors safe.”
The event provides a unique opportunity to prepare while also enjoying the community atmosphere of the Chili Cook-Off, where local agencies compete for the best recipe while raising funds for public safety programs.
Featured preparedness topics include:
- Building an emergency “go-kit” for your family, pets, and livestock
- Long-term food and water storage techniques
- Wildfire awareness and home hardening strategies
- Emergency communication and alert systems
- Power outage and utility safety
- Community volunteer opportunities in emergency response
Participating partners include:
- BCSO Marine Patrol
- BCSO Emergency Management Volunteer Corps
- Benton County Community Development
- Corvallis Mountain Rescue Unit
- Oregon Department of Emergency Management
- Oregon State Fire Marshal
- HazAdapt
- Pacific Power
- Oregon Livestock Council
- Oregon Department of Forestry
- Corvallis Emergency Management
- American Red Cross
- City of Philomath Police Department
- Oregon State University Public Safety
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