Community Disaster Preparedness Expo, 6/11/11 10am – 4pm

Brookswood Meadow Plaza Hosts Community Disaster Preparedness Expo on June 11th

June, 2, 2011, BEND, OR – Earthquakes. Volcanoes. Tornados. Floods. Fires. With natural disasters regularly making the news and affecting thousands of lives all over the world many Central Oregonians are wondering, “How can we be better prepared for a disaster here?” On Saturday, June 11th from 10:00am – 4:00pm area residents can attend the Community Disaster Preparedness Expo at Brookswood Meadow Plaza for a full day of activities, demonstrations and workshops to get answers to their questions about how to protect themselves and their families in the event of a disaster. Also included at the event will be a Blood Drive, barbecue, kids events, and a host of emergency vehicles on display.

“Brookswood Meadow Plaza is pleased to have partnered with Deschutes County Sheriff’s Department, the American Red Cross and other vital community organizations and businesses to provide a venue for this Expo,” said Cricket Kadoch, who heads up the Plaza’s Community Relations. “Disaster knows no boundaries. Even emergencies that happen in other parts of Oregon and the world can affect us here if supply routes are cut off. Our entire community benefits when we as neighbors share a common knowledge and discussions on these issues.”

Workshops (20-25 minutes in length) will run throughout the day on the following topics: Cascadian Earthquake, Senior Preparedness, Map Your Neighborhood, Children’s Preparedness, and How to Make a Survival Kit. Retail vendors will have products on display as well. The Expo will be held “rain or shine” as most activities will take place inside.

“We invite all members of the Central Oregon community to participate in this important event,” said event organizer and Red Cross volunteer Bruce Willhite (retired Navy SEAL Commander). “The goal is to empower people with practical knowledge and tools they can leave with and use to prepare their families and neighborhoods in case of an emergency.”

Tips for easy event access: Take advantage of the free rides offered by Bend Area Transit on Brookswood Route 2 that day or utilize the overflow event parking at Elk Meadow Elementary School. It is a short walk heading South from the “Poplar and Brookswood” bus stop or the school to the Plaza.

Brookswood Meadow Plaza is Bend’s uniquely-local shopping and dining destination, offering prime retail, office and restaurant space. The Plaza serves over 15,000 homes in the south Bend area and provides a convenient center for business, events, and community, anchored by CE Lovejoy’s Brookswood Market. Located on Brookswood Boulevard just south of Elk Meadow Elementary School and one mile north of Baker Road at the corner of Amber Meadow Drive, this neighborhood hub is at the base of Bend Area Transit’s Brookswood Route 2. Find us on Facebook at “Brookswood Meadow Plaza” and visit our new website at www.brookswoodmeadowplaza.com.

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For more information, contact Cricket Kadoch at Brookswood Meadow Plaza: (541) 306-1636 or community@brookswoodmeadowplaza.com.