While other King City residents were relaxing and enjoying springtime in Oregon, a handful of dedicated people were working hard to keep the city safe during an emergency. Bill Gaskill, John Greer, Bob Olmstead, Margie Margee and Bev Speck had previously completed the city's CERT training, and now they are certified ham radio operators, thanks to the instruction of fellow CERT member and ham operator Hugh Garrabrant.

The Community Emergency Response Team program started four years ago, and police Chief Chuck Fessler has led the trainings, which include 40 hours over a 10-week period. Fessler also requires an additional 24 hours of training per year once people are certified.

Disaster management requires a well coordinated effort 'before the disaster' strikes and this  report by Barbara should serve as a lesson for all that we need to create a sizeable population of ham radio operators around the globe, especially in India which often has to face nature's fury, either in the form of Cyclone in Orissa or the recent Aila in West Bengal, Earthquakes in Gujarat and Uttaranchal and the dangerous Tsunami which took costal ndia by surprise couple of years back.

What do you think should be done for disaster management and risk mitigation in India? Do share your views and thoughts!

Read more details on King City residents as reported by Barbara Sherman on The Regal Courier

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