First responders, Cole County Fair organizers prepare for heavy rain

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Ahead of severe thunderstorms head towards Mid-Missouri, the Jefferson City Jaycees Fair is working with local first responders to keep fairgoers safe.

"Every night we have a meeting behind the building with Emergency Management and Sheriff's Department, First Aid, and all of that stuff," Fair Chairmen Derred Scheperle said.

The Cole County Fair began Monday night and runs through Saturday. The ABC 17 News Stormtrack Weather Team issued a Weather Alert Day, due to possible storms and flooding in the area.

Scheperly said he and other fair leaders are hopeful the rain will hold off throughout Tuesday night, but said they do work with local first responders to prepare.

"We go over the weather, we go over parking, we go over crowd control, stuff like that," said Scheperly.

A place to shelter in the event of severe weather is available as well.

"We do have shelters here, we also have like a speaker system so that if we know of anything that's coming we can get the word out," said Scheperly.

"The biggest thing is probably getting alerted," Cole County EMT Tanner Nolte said. "So having a weather radio in your home, signing up for alerts on your phone. Then if you do get those alerts, follow them."

Jefferson City firefighter Clint Kempker said the Jefferson City Fire Department and Cole County EMS will be at the fair all evening.

Kempker added that you should get too high grounds if you are near flooding, "Get up to an upper level, and call 911."

The fair will run until Saturday, updates on shows, cancelations and more can be found of it's facebook page.