(LISTEN): Boone County’s annual ready festival is Thursday; preparedness is a key theme

By Brian Hauswirth
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Boone County emergency managers encourage you to attend Thursday’s 6th annual Boone County ready festival at Columbia’s Cosmo park.

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The Boone County Fire Protection District says crews responded to more than a dozen calls for service, including six floodwater-related emergency calls during August 6, 2026 flooding (file photo courtesy of Boone County Fire Protection District’s Facebook page)

Boone County Office of Emergency Management director Chris Kelley says the event is aimed at engaging, educating and empowering you to be prepared for emergencies:

We never know what’s going to come whether it’s a natural hazard, manmade. We all need to take that step to make sure that our households, our loved ones are prepared before that bad day happens,” Mr. Kelley says.

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Boone County Office of Emergency Management director Chris Kelley (photo courtesy of Boone County OEM website)

He joined joined 939 the Eagle’s Mike Murphy in-studio on the “Eagle Eye Drive at 5.” Today’s festival is from 3-7 pm at Cosmo park’s Lamb shelter.

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Storms caused this tree damage in mid-Missouri’s Hartsburg in April (April 17, 2026 file photo courtesy of Southern Boone Fire District and Boone County Office of Emergency Management Director Chris Kelley)