Tornadoes, power outages and ice storms were all disasters Lawrence residents became prepared for at Saturday’s preparedness fair at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper St.

Jillian Rodrigue, assistant director of Douglas County Emergency Management, said the fair made residents aware that disasters and emergencies can happen at any time, and that being prepared is important.

“That’s what it’s about, making sure our citizens are ready,” she said.

The fair featured booths from various local organizations, including the National Weather Service, the Red Cross and the Humane Society. Most booths offered giveaways and supplies to start an emergency preparedness kit.

“Putting together a big kit can be overwhelming,” Rodrigue said. That’s why the booths were helping kick-start the kits for residents.

Richard Pilant, Lawrence resident, came to the fair with his wife and granddaughter. He said the fair was a learning experience for his granddaughter, and she had been taught about how to safely react when in a room full of smoke during a fire.

“It’s a good thing for her to see,” he said.