May 18, 2013
A Local 8 Weather Alert has been issued for today. Because of the threat of rain, thunder and even hail, outdoor activities may be disrupted or inconvenienced. What's going on? An upper-level low will be moving across East Tennessee today, creating a more unstable atmosphere.
The Ballplay Ruritan Club said the tornado that ripped through Tellico Plains in March is what inspired them to hold their first ever disaster fair.
The tornado left a path of destruction and knocked out power to thousands - meaning no running water and for most, no way to cook food.
"It came right over my house. And we had no damage - we had two trees down, but that was the extent of our damage. We live right on the outskirts of Tellico Plains in Mount Vernon, TN. And yes, it was really scary," said Tammy Kadau, who attended the fair.
Kadau said she wasn't prepared if the damage had been worse - which is why she picked up tips in case there's a next time.
"I've learned like the water, you know - if anything was to happen, then access to water is important. It wouldn't hurt for everybody to have sources of water," said Kadau.
Displays showcased different water storage and purifying options.
"The rule of thumb is one gallon per person per day for drinking. But it's also a good idea to have an additional gallon for personal hygiene and food preparation," said Joe Biven, with the Ruritan Club.
And speaking of that, if there's no power, the club suggests having plenty of canned food on hand, and another way to cook.
(Lynne Pearson, Ballplay Ruritan Club VP) "You've got camp stoves - a lot of people do camping, so they've got the fuel - you just need to make sure you've got extra fuel on hand. You can do a campfire out in your backyard, weather permitting or if you can get out there. If you have a wood burning stove in your home, you can use that to cook on," said Lynne Person, the club's vice president.
The fair also highlighted emergency lighting and heating options - and how to keep your home safe from fire.
"If you're not prepared, it always seems to happen. If you are prepared - I prefer to get other peoples' opions about it, besides what I was trained in the military," said Aldea Silverhawk, who attended the fair.
Organizers said they're hopeful the disaster fair will become an annual event.
