San Mateo County hosts South Korean delegation to discuss global emergency preparedness techniques
San Mateo County, California – Emergency managers from South Korea set off a 5,500-mile trip to San Mateo County’s Regional Operations Center (ROC) to provide ideas and methods to local professionals in a major step to support worldwide emergency management techniques. This special conference gave both sides an opportunity to talk about common issues and creative ideas in the face of natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and wildfires.
During the welcoming ceremony, County Executive Mike Callagy highlighted the importance of international cooperation.
“You are recognized leaders, and we are excited about what we are doing here but look forward to learning what you are doing back home,” Callagy stated, acknowledging the expertise and leadership of the South Korean team. His remarks were translated to bridge the communication gap, emphasizing the close partnership between the two regions.
Being on the margins of their respective continents and confronting risks from seismic activity, wildfires, and climate change-induced events, San Mateo County and South Korea share similar geographical threats. Their geographical kinship makes their cooperation especially important and helpful.
Dr. Shruti Dhapodkar, director of San Mateo County’s Department of Emergency Management, led the delegation of twenty South Korean emergency managers through the ROC and the County’s 9-1-1 Public Safety Communications department. These tours offered a complete picture of the county’s four main pillars—preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery—that define its approach to disaster management.
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Dhapodkar underlined the county’s proactive steps taken to guarantee a strong reaction to crises. She clarified that the emphasis is on not only reacting to disasters but also on getting the local community ready to survive and bounce back from them.
Ho Geong Cho, a Geochang, South Korea delegate around 150 miles south of Seoul, saw various variations in approach. Cho said, via a translator, that the South Korean approach often prioritizes post-disaster rehabilitation above initial readiness. This realization underlined for both sides the possibility of learning and adaptability. Cho said she was excited to return with ideas to help her area’s disaster response and readiness.
The challenge of language and technical terminology was one of the more fascinating features of the trip. The emergency management field is rife with specialized jargon and acronyms that can be difficult to translate. Still, the effort to guarantee proper communication was obvious, translators carefully trying to explain difficult ideas in both directions. This underlined the dedication to mutual understanding and sharing knowledge.
At one point, recognizing the complexity of the discussions, Dr. Dhapodkar simplified the conversation to maintain engagement.
“There’s two things we are doing that are cool,” she said, briefly stepping away from the technical details to foster a lighter, more inclusive atmosphere. This moment of levity was appreciated by all, including the translator, who mirrored Dhapodkar’s smile.
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This international debate emphasizes the universal difficulties emergency managers worldwide face as well as the great advantages of sharing knowledge and practices. Learning from one another’s achievements and failures helps areas like San Mateo County and South Korea not only improve their local capacity but also help to create world resilience against natural catastrophes.
