PRESS RELEASE
2 October 2013

In view of the State of Hawaii’s geographical isolation and vulnerability to natural disasters, and with 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 27 September 2013 at the Consulate.

Mr. Ray Moore (standing) of the American Red Cross - Hawaii Chapter, conducts a "Be Red Cross Ready" Training for the personnel and families of the Philippine Consulate General.

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’s 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).

Consul General Torres presents Certificates of Appreciation to Red Cross Trainers Ms. Loise Cooke (center) and Mr. Ray Moore (second from right).

Joining them are Vice Consul Joyleen E. Santos and Consul Roberto Bernardo.