La Conner Weekly News - Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper

Emergency preparedness is serious stuff. One need only look at this summer’s headlines, from accounts of wildland fires on Maui to hurricane activity in Florida.

Bracing for the “big one” or getting ready to deal with tsunamis doesn’t have to be entirely grim.

A case in point is the disaster preparedness fair Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at John K. Bob Ball Park on Swinomish Reservation.

The Sept. 9 event will blend emergency training and demonstrations with food, raffles and giveaways.

In addition, Fire District 13, which serves Swinomish and rural La Conner, will coordinate emergency management events this fall, including annual Great ShakeOut drills on Oct. 19 addressing earthquake readiness.