Community members learn about emergency kits from Northlake Medical Pharmacy and are reminded to keep a supply of prescription medication on-hand at the first disaster preparedness expo in Lakeport, Calif., on Saturday, October 15, 2011. Photo by Terre Logsdon.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Bringing together emergency responders, community groups, businesses and the public, the first disaster preparedness expo held in Lakeport on Saturday was educational for all involved.

The city of Lakeport and Mendo Mill sponsored the event, which took place at Mendo Mill on S. Main Street.

“Not only does this kind of event raise public awareness of what to do in the event of an emergency, but it serves as a networking event for providers of disaster-relief services,” explained Lake County Health Office Dr. Karen Tait.

Gregg Scott, volunteer emergency services coordinator with the Lakeport's Police Department, had written in a news article that residents needed to consider what they and their family would do in the event of an emergency in Lake County – if the power, phone lines, cell phone or other infrastructure were down for an extended period of time.

“Communications between the community and first responders is a critical link that we provide on a regular basis,” explained Arland Souza with the Nice Amateur Radio Club, who said there are more than 300 amateur radio – also called ham radio – operators in Lake County, many of whom, “listen in and assist daily in and for your community.”

Many of the organizations represented at the expo operate on, and are currently seeking, volunteers such as the Lake Evacuation and Protection (LEAP), which cooperates with Lake County Animal Control to aid in the evacuation of domestic animals and livestock in the event of an emergency, and the Lake County Medical Reserve Corps, which assists professionals who want to volunteer during an emergency or disaster.

Informational booths at the event included attorney Dennis Fordham, Lincoln-Levitt insurance, Amerigas, Lake County Vector Control, North Lake Medical Pharmacy, the Nice Amateur Radio Club, CalFire, California Highway Patrol, Timberline Land Management, Vietnam Veterans of America, T-Mobile, the Lake County Medical Reserve Corps, American Red Cross, Lake Evacuation Animal Protection (LEAP), Vulcan Vents, Mark Davis Insurance, Paul Davis Restoration and Remodeling and more.

For more information on volunteering with LEAP, contact Nehemiah White at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For more information on registering to volunteer with the Lake County Medical Reserve Corps, contact Linda Fraser at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Timberline Land Management reminds residents to assist firefighting efforts by maintaining defensible space around homes and structures at a disaster preparedness expo in Lakeport, Calif., on Saturday, October 15, 2011. Photo by Terre Logsdon.