Emergency Preparedness Fair in Shelley

Preparing for the worst — flooding, earthquakes, the end of the world — you never know what the future will hold. But on Saturday, thousands of people got ready for what could possibly be in store.

The seventh annual Emergency Preparedness Fair filled Shelley High School with different skill building demonstrations and classes taught by local and regional experts and specialist.

“There’s a lot of outdoor stuff. And I really enjoy that outdoors and, you know, just learning more,” fairgoer Samantha Halversen said.

Emergency-minded men, women and children came in huge numbers to check out the latest gear and most efficient survival tips.

“The biggest draw for the preparedness fair are the classes that we do ’cause the classes are all free to anybody who wants to come and you can learn all sorts of different things. Like, I’m teaching a beekeeping class, or you can learn about herbs. You can learn how to prepare for any disaster that’s out there,” said Adam French, the fair’s chairman.

Identifying plants, solar energy, beekeeping, making a tent your home, water filtration — there was something for everyone.

“I think it actually encompasses just about anybody because there are all sorts of different things here. Like maybe if you’re feeling a little sickly and you need some help or something like that. You can come here ’cause there’s a lot of herbs and those kinds of things. But there’s also apocalyptic type people — you know, you can do that too,” French said.

“My husband and I really enjoy being outdoor and backpacking is all about, you know, the lightest that you can and the most efficiency. So that’s kind of why we’re here. Just making sure that we can be on top of our game so when it actually gets warm enough to go, we’ll be ready,” Halversen said.

The fair happens every year and the class provided were free. Below is a list of classes that were at this year’s fair:

48 Plants That Heal & How to Use Them Affordable Firearms & Self Defense Training All About Solar Energy: The Do’s & Don’ts Alternative Remedies for Infectious Diseases Backyard Beekeeping Made Easy Backyard Chickens, Rabbits and Turkeys Child Birth in an Emergency Delicious Home Made Soft Cheeses Emergency Preparedness Basics: How to Start EMP Threat: Facts, Fiction & How to Prepare Forgotten & Overlooked Preparedness Items Hands On Emergency Suturing Herbal Wound Management How to Cook with no Sun, Power, Gas or Wood How To Make A Tent A Home How To Stay Toasty Warm in Icy Weather Identity Theft Prevention & Recovery Medicinal Plants: The Apocalypse Apothecary Personal Preparation for Personal Disasters Prep Tech: Gadget & Gizmos for Preparedness Secrets to Pruning Prolific Fruit Trees Six Secrets to Successful Gardening Snares & Traps: Tips, Tricks & Tactics Thrive vs Survive With Your Food Storage Wall Tents & Wood Stoves: Pro’s & Con’s & Q&A Water Filtration & Storage: What You Don’t Know May Kill You What’s Coming and How to Prepare Why Most 72 Hour Kits Will Kill You You Can Have Your Food Storage And Eat It Too