Emergency preparedness comes to the Valley

Hundreds of Wimberley residents turned out for the Wimberley Valley Emergency Preparedness Fair this past weekend.

The fair took place on Saturday, March 25, at the VFW Fairgrounds. A cooperative effort of state, county, and city first responders and related service organizations, it exposed visitors to more than 35 information booths that dispensed critical information on a wide range of emergency- related issues.

At the Crime Stoppers booth, vice chairman of the Board of Directors of Hays County Crime Stoppers, Steve Meyer, announced that the EZ Child ID program will soon be available. The system, an on-the-spot digital fingerprint and photo system, is to be debuted at the third Annual Hays County Easter Egg Hunt on Friday, April 7, at the Hays County Historic Courthouse, 111 E. San Antonio St. in San Marcos. The event will be free to attend.

The Texas Department of Safety helicopter was on display for visitors with Texas DPS Pilot Mike Perez and Sgt. Izak Gallegos on hand to answer questions about the role it plays in emergency situations. While the helicopter is used often for law enforcement, it is also flown in search and rescue missions to help locate missing persons, according to Perez.

Festival participants watched as the Travis County StarFlight helicopter flew in from Austin Hangar 35 and landed with Pilot Jeff Picklesimer at the helm. While landed, young dogs training with Freedom Canines climbed aboard the craft with their handlers to get comfortable with the space. Paramedics Cody Tucker and Registered Nurse Paramedic Rita Sears explained aspects of the interior’s facilities to curious children and adults.

The cities of Wimberley and Woodcreek were both represented, along with KWVH 94.3, the Wimberley Valley Rangers and the Wimberley EMS, Fire and Constable departments. The Hays County Office of Emergency Management, the Sheriff’s Office, SWAT, the Health Department, Crime Stoppers and 911 all dispensed information to visitors.

Volunteers from the National Weather Service, the Texas A&M Forest Service and Pedernales Electric Cooperative answered questions and handed out brochures.

Attendees watched as law enforcement and rescue drones were demonstrated.

Free hot dogs and snow cones were also available to the crowd. Families enjoyed horses from Mini Equines 2U, bounce houses and a visit from Smokey the Bear.