September marks National Preparedness Month, the annual campaign to remind everyone that preparing for emergencies and disasters can keep them, their families, and their communities safe. In honor of preparedness month, Emergency Management will host the 2025 Preparedness Fair on Thursday, September 18th, from 5 PM to 8 PM at the Pottawattamie County Emergency Operations Center. This free, family-friendly event will provide you opportunties to learn and have a great time.
What to Expect at the Preparedness Fair
- Preparedness Resources
- Interactive Educational Opportunities
- Family Games
- Free face painting
- Free food
- Information From Local Response Partners
- Raffle Prizes
- Flu shots (Bring your insurance information or $20 to receive your annual flu shot)
Preparedness Fair Participating Partners
- Pottawattamie County Public Health
- Rapid Relief Team (providing food at the fair)
- American Red Cross | Omaha-Council Bluffs & SW Iowa Chapter
- National Weather Service, Omaha/Valley
- The Salvation Army of Council Bluffs
- Inter-Faith Response, Inc.
- Connections Area Agency on Aging
- New Visions Homeless Services
- Council Bluffs Police Department
- Family Housing Advisory Services
- Central Athletics Cheer & Tumbling (providing face painting at the fair)
- Iowa Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management
- Iowa Legal Aid
- Habitat for Humanity | Council Bluffs
- Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Office
- Council Bluffs Fire Department
Stay Prepared with Alert Iowa
One of the easiest and most effective ways to stay informed during emergencies is by signing up for the Alert Iowa System. This free service is the primary source for official emergency notifications across the state, keeping you and your family connected with real-time updates from state and local officials.
Alert Iowa isn’t just for severe weather—it also provides critical alerts for water conservation notices, boil orders, evacuation or shelter-in-place instructions, missing persons advisories, burn bans, law enforcement activity, snow emergencies, and more.
Don’t leave safety up to chance—make sure you’re prepared and connected.
Emergency Management's Mission
Pottawattamie County Emergency Management is dedicated to helping people and organizations succeed for any disaster. Their success is measured by how well they create a safe and secure community— built on leadership, support, transparency, and collaboration. They lead by setting a positive example, support by providing a helping hand, connect by communicating openly, and unify by bringing stakeholders together.
Guided by the principles of being comprehensive, progressive, and risk-driven, they address all hazards and impacts while anticipating future challenges. By working in a collaborative way, they ensure unity of effort across all levels of government, organizations, and the community. Want to learn more about their mission? Click the button below.
The 2025 Preparedness Fair is more than an event—it’s an opportunity to build a safer, stronger, and more connected community. By coming together, learning from local partners, and taking simple steps toward readiness, we can all play a role in protecting ourselves and those around us. Mark your calendars, bring your family, and join us in making preparedness a priority for Pottawattamie County.
