The Global-CDMHA is currently offering training in Disaster Management to members of the Venezuelan Civil Defense in the state of Carabobo as well as to the Fire Department in the state of Merida. The state of Aragua has recently requested that the Global-CDMHA offer the same training to their community and discussions are currently underway to plan for the extension of the program to this area of the country. The workshops currently offered have been made possible by funds provided by PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) and the Global-CDMHA.

 

The courses, seminars, and workshops are being offered on site, and are on a train-the-trainer format. The objective of the program is to improve the abilities and skills of the participants in preparing their communities for disaster management and risk reduction. At the end of the program, participants will be able to prepare and deliver training to decision makers and others, in community planning and preparedness, based on risks currently faced in their community. The key to reduce the effects of natural disasters is to minimize their destructive impact. By developing stronger communities that are better prepared and less vulnerable to disasters, the extent of the potential damages will be dramatically reduced.

 

The Global-CDMHA has also been requested to provide a series of Digital Teleconferences in Disaster Management at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela. These are made possible by using the uplink equipment of the University of South Florida, where our Center is located. The technical assistance was provided by the Professional Education Department, also located at USF. There will be a series of five workshops (or VTC's) and we invite you to review the list, description and schedule of topics being presented by clicking here.

 

The first teleconference was held on November 25, 2003 and discussed the role of an Emergency Operation Center (EOC) in developing a task force and an emergency plan. About twenty emergency responders and Civil Defense personnel attended. View the Presentation. A Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) as well as a Guide for Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) was provided to the participants as part of their training and for their resources. The U.S. Embassy will be inviting different groups of participants to the upcoming workshops based on the topics being discussed, and how these relate to each group's interest.

 

As part of the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Embassy has also donated funds to provide books on disaster management to the civil defense in the state of Carabobo.

 

We invite you to check our web site again soon, as we will be posting the power point presentations of the upcoming workshops in the near future.