Brandon Leuallen, The Business Times 

A preparedness and survival expo is coming to Grand Junction this summer, bringing vendors, demonstrations and seminars focused on emergency readiness, first aid, communications and self-reliance.

The Grand Junction Peaks & Plains Prepper Expo is scheduled for Aug. 29-30 at the Mesa County Fairgrounds.

Justin Anderson, show manager for the expo, said the Eaton, Colorado-based organization has been hosting similar events in Colorado for about three years and is expanding into other parts of the state.

Anderson said the expo is intended to help people become more prepared for unexpected emergencies.

“It’s a good thing for people to have, especially nowadays. … You have no idea what’s going to happen at any given moment,” Anderson said.

While the term “prepper” often brings to mind long-term doomsday scenarios, many of the products featured at the expo are intended for more common emergencies. Colorado residents have experienced wildfires, evacuations, power outages and severe winter storms in recent years.

Skills such as first aid, emergency communications, water purification and food storage are often promoted as ways to help households remain self-sufficient during short-term disruptions.

The event will feature vendors offering products ranging from first-aid supplies and emergency medical kits to water-filtration systems, food-storage products, survival gear, military-surplus equipment and off-grid living solutions. Many of the products serve dual purposes, offering utility for emergency preparedness and outdoor recreation such as camping, hunting and backpacking.

Educational sessions are expected to cover preparedness basics, first aid and emergency communications, including an introduction to ham radio. Also known as amateur radio, ham radio allows operators to communicate without relying on cellular networks or the internet and is often used as a backup communication method during emergencies.

Two participants from the Discovery Channel television series Naked and Afraid are also expected to attend as guest speakers.

Other preparedness topics include water filtration, water storage and food storage. Water-filtration systems can help provide drinking water when normal supplies are disrupted, while freeze-dried and shelf-stable foods are designed to provide a backup food supply during emergencies.

According to promotional materials, the event will also highlight topics including homesteading, evacuation planning, search and rescue, fire safety and natural-disaster readiness.

Anderson said organizers are expanding beyond Colorado’s Front Range and wanted to bring the event to other parts of the state, including western Colorado.

In addition to vendor booths, attendees will be able to participate in demonstrations and interactive learning opportunities, including first-aid instruction and preparedness training.

“We want people to get educated more than anything,” Anderson said.

More information about the expo is available through the Peaks & Plains Prepper Expo website.