A seven-week series of meetings about emergency preparedness will begin Sept. 27 at Next Step Seventh-day Adventist Church in West Plains.
Meetings will be every Thursday at 6:30 p.m., and will cover topics including threat assessment and physical preparedness, as well as community, financial and mental preparedness. The seminars are free, and everyone is welcome.
Select resources will be offered for sale at the gatherings, and vendors will attend who are helping sponsor the series through proceeds from their sales. The series will be presented by Craig Wiles, owner of Preferred Energy, a company specializing in independent power with solar, wind and other sources of energy. Wiles is also the pastor of Next Step church and will share the Christian principles of preparedness and working together as a community.
“Whether you already have a preparedness plan in place or do not know anything about it, these meeting will help you to increase your level of preparedness,” he said. “The most important factor in determining a satisfactory outcome of an event is the level of preparedness for that event. ‘Get ready, be ready, stay ready’ is the theme of these meetings. Plan now to attend and bring others that you interact with every day, whether they are family, neighbors or co-workers.”
Next Step Seventh-day Adventist Church is north of West Plains on U.S. 63 across the highway from the Elks Club and Richards Elementary School (it’s the big tan building next to the old race track). It has hosted an event called the Sustainable Living Festival each May for the last several years.
There is no charge and no need to register, but to help ensure handouts are available for everyone, please indicate ahead of time how many will be attending in your party.
Please call 417-818-6057, or email info@preferredenergy.com, so event organizers can be prepared.