18 December 2013 - The American Red Cross of Los Angeles (ARCLA) made a presentation on emergency/disaster preparedness for the officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles on December 05.

Nick Hippisley-Coxe and Guillermo Sanchez of ARCLA taught consular officers and staff on the protective measures to take before, during and after an emergency.

Mr. Hippisely-Coxe encouraged the audience to assemble their own disaster supplies kit well in advance of an emergency.  He explained that while local officials and relief workers will be on the scene immediately after a disaster, they may be unable to reach everyone right away.  As such, every person should be prepared to survive on his own after an emergency.  “Households should have food, water, and other basic supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least 72 hours,” Mr. Hippisely-Coxe advised.

Mr. Sanchez urged the audience to customize their plan for an emergency according to their individual needs and responsibilities.  Other factors that should be considered when preparing the plan include the methods of communication, types of shelter and available transportation. “It’s very important to know what to do and where to go,” Mr. Sanchez said.

After the training session, Consul General Maria Hellen Barber Dela Vega thanked the presenters for providing consular officers and staff with sufficient information on emergency preparedness. END