Chicago PCG Celebrates National Women’s Month with an Introduction to Emergency Preparedness by the Chicago Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago celebrated the National Women’s Month by organizing for the members of the Filipino community in Chicago an introduction to disaster preparedness conducted by offi cers and members of Chicago’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) led by Director Richard Frizelis. Other presenters were Deputy Director Josephine Mascarenas-Diaz and Deputy Director Maria Vergara who are both Filipino-American.

The event with the title “Gear Up. Get Ready!,” was held at the Kalayaan Hall of Chicago PCG on 27 March 2018 and served as Post’s “Ika-4 na Talakayan sa Konsulado”. Given women’s high vulnerability to risks during disasters, the Talakayan aimed to empower Filipino women in Chicago by providing the attendees of the event information and skills on how to prepare for emergency situations brought about by disasters.

Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin, in her welcome remarks, thanked CERT for sharing their knowledge and skills that will help raise the Filipino community’s appreciation of the importance of disaster preparedness. The presentations included the preparation of an emergency kit, preparation of a family emergency plan and schedule of the next CERT trainings offered by the city of Chicago for free for its residents. A short video on the importance of having women as stakeholders in disaster management was shown prior to the presentations by Chicago CERT.

Managed by the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC), CERT was developed to augment local response capabilities and recovery efforts throughout the city by training volunteers to be prepared for home emergencies and to respond to a crisis or disaster. END