The Red Cross is challenging area residents to get prepared before a disaster strikes.  Community Outreach Coordinator Bev Erickson says as part of the Walmart Red Cross fundraising campaign they will hold a preparedness challenge in the form of a scavenger hunt to assemble a 72 hour preparedness kit for home using items found in the store. She explained that on Saturday at 1 PM teams involving Walmart staff, Red Cross volunteers, emergency response partners, news media personnel and citizens will gather to accept the challenge.  She says teams will be given 30 minutes to collect a list of items that the Red Cross recommends families put in their home emergency kits.  Upon return to the starting point a panel of judges will score the items found and bonus points will be awarded for creativity in securing other items of usefulness.

Erickson adds there will also be an information recruitment booth set up to assist with any questions or information on programming and how to become a Red Cross volunteer.