02 October 2013 - In view of the State of Hawaii’s geographical isolation and vulnerability to natural disasters, it being located at the center of the “Ring of Fire”, the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu partnered with the American Red Cross – Hawaii Chapter in organizing a disaster preparedness training for its personnel and their families on September 27 at the Consulate.

Entitled “Be Red Cross Ready”, the training underscored the need to be well-informed and prepared for any disaster for at least seven (7) days instead of seventy-two (72) hours, to develop one’s own disaster plan to improve one’s family, business and community’s resiliency. Being “Red Cross Ready”, according to Red Cross trainers Mr. Ray Moore and Ms. Loise Cooke means remembering and doing three important activities: (1) Preparing a disaster emergency kit; (2) Making emergency and evacuation plans; and (3) Being informed.

Mr. Moore also encouraged the attendees to consider becoming a Red Cross partner volunteer who would be trained to be ready immediately to help in a time of a local, large-scale disaster.

Consul General Julius D. Torres thanked Mr. Moore and Ms. Cooke and assured that the Consulate would be ready to assist Red Cross in its goal to promote community awareness to the Filipino community in Hawaii so they could be mobilized as part of the whole community effort needed to respond to and recover from a major disaster. END