"Our message is people need to be prepared to be self-sufficient for 72 hours and not overwhelm the 9-1-1 system."

By SARAH KINGSBURY
Chico Enterprise-Record

CHICO, Calif. — When the Jan. 4 storm knocked out electricity, it left some residents in a state of panic. Organizers of Saturday's emergency preparedness expo hope to prevent that from happening again.

Several classes and exhibits were held at a local church on topics ranging from the construction of 72-hour kits, food storage, water safety, evacuation, emergency power sources, alternative cooking and what to do with important papers.

An estimated 120 people attended the event, which lasted five hours.

Chico Fire Inspector Marie Fickert taught a class on 72-hour emergency kits. She said the kits should include, among other things, flashlights and plenty of non-perishable food and water.

Fickert said Chico had been "lulled into a sense of security" before the Jan. 4 storm, and she witnessed many households that were unprepared to live without electricity for several days.

"Our message is people need to be prepared to be self-sufficient for 72 hours and not overwhelm the 9-1-1 system," she said.

After the storm the Chico Fire Department reportedly received the most calls in its history. Some families were even calling an emergency operations line set up for storm victims and asking dispatchers how to entertain their children without television or computers, Fickert said.

"Children expect their parents to be prepared for an emergency, and if they're not it can affect the emotional state of children," she said.

Another provision often forgotten in emergency kits is provisions for pets, such as food and medicine.

Aside from natural disasters, some of the tips were aimed at being prepared for economic crisis, too.

Lonie Morelli helped run an exhibit about long-term food storage, which she said is important in the case of an unexpected job loss or if the rising cost of food becomes too unbearable for low-income families.

A colorful display showcased examples of foods that can be stored for long periods of time in baskets filled with dry goods like canned meats, nuts, mayonnaise, oil, raisins, spices, soup, powdered drinks, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables and bottled juice.

But to save up three months worth of food, most people will first have to figure out where to put it.

"Storage space is an issue for a lot of people," Morelli said. "You do have to get creative sometimes you have to store food under your bed, for example."

Preparing an emergency food supply can be done gradually by purchasing an item or two during every grocery shopping trip, and its important to buy foods family members are familiar with eating.

Several agencies involved in emergency response hosted outdoor exhibits, including the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross, Butte County Public Health and the Chico Fire Department.

Kathie Turner discusses long-term storage methods with Beth Gagon Saturday at the Emergency Preparedness Expo.(Sarah Kingsbury/Staff Photo) All Chico E-R photos are available here .

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