Strong winds, power outages, snow and black ice as well as the occasional earthquake are inherent to Whidbey Island. The four-day island power outage in December 1991 is proof of that.

With that in mind, the Fleet and Family Support Center hosted Operation Prepare Fair Sept. 30 at the Chief Petty Officers’ Club. People had the opportunity to speak with experts ranging from disaster relief and community response areas, to learning how their family can be better prepared.

Over 60 people showed up to the third annual Operation Prepare Fair as part of September’s National Preparedness Month. There were raffles and prizes, emergency prepared kits such as one which contained three days of food and water supply.

There were nearly 18 booths. Among these were Island County Medical Reserve Corp, Puget Sound Energy, NAS Whidbey Island Child and Youth Programs, Cascade Gas and Naval Hospital Oak Harbor.

“Red Cross was my favorite because they had candy,” said Brook Sorenson, a 5-year old boy as his mother Christa explained to him that the Red Cross helps people in emergencies. Navy- Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) was one of the booths. In any emergencies, they can assist service members and retirees with an interest-free loan or grant depending on the situation.

Service members should always try and be prepared for anything to happen when they’re gone and ensure their families have the resources to get help.

“I highly encourage service members to have a general attorney or a NMCRS Pre-Authorization Form Before going on deployment so their families can receive assistance and to keep it in their emergency prepare kits,” said Elton Gifford, Director of NMCRS Whidbey Island.

Many people wait until it’s too late to get information. Here’s something to think about. If there is some kind of disaster, do you have a plan? Do you have a three-day supply of food and water for you and your loved ones?

Maybe it’s time to be better informed.

For more information on disaster preparedness, contact Jeff Kirkey, base Emergency Management Officer at 257-9020; or Peter Harris, Fleet and Family Support Center at 257-5267. Remember, the NAS Whidbey Island Command Information Line phone number — (360) 279-1080 — is updated by NAS Public Affairs and Naval Hospital Oak Harbor Public Affairs in any emergency and when snow and ice causes gate closures.