On June 15th, the San Jose Emergency Relief Association held a seminar on Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for emergency relief. During the seminar, the association shared its years of experience in emergency relief administration and explained how to effectively utilize various social resources for providing emergency assistance.
The afternoon seminar was led by Catharina Gill, founding president of the Northern California San Jose Taiwan Overseas Compatriot Emergency Relief Association. Distinguished guests in attendance included Deputy Director General Zhu Yongchang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, Secretary Xu Caifeng of the Overseas Compatriot Education Center, representatives of Mayor Han Ma from San Jose – Steven Ngo and council member Arjun Batra, along with President Li Pingping of the San Jose Emergency Relief Association, Committee members Li Wenxiong and Zhou Xingjie, and Dr. Fu Hongyu, founder of the Fu Hongyu Foundation.
During the seminar, Catharina Gill elaborated on the Standard Operating Procedures for emergency relief through several case studies, emphasizing the importance of following established procedures and effectively utilizing mainstream American social resources while collaborating with the Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission and diplomatic missions abroad.
She noted that the event aimed to help the association’s executive directors, officials, and community leaders understand the administrative standard operating procedures for emergency relief to efficiently assist victims, their families, and individuals in urgent need of care. Effective emergency relief work also requires harnessing mainstream American resources to better support Taiwanese expatriates, business travelers, students, and tourists.
Deputy Director General Zhu Yongchang expressed gratitude for the valuable opportunity provided by the Emergency Relief Association, enabling attendees to acquire professional knowledge and experiences. He highlighted the organization’s contributions to the community over the years, including distributing masks, blankets, and mental health seminars during the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasized the importance of knowing how to seek assistance in times of disasters or emergencies.
Representing Mayor Han Ma, Steven Ngo stressed the significance of knowing whom to contact in emergency or non-emergency situations. Encouraging residents to report abandoned vehicles, road potholes, or faulty streetlights, he emphasized the importance of communication. Residents were encouraged to reach out to their office for any concerns, promising to provide the best possible service.
Council member Arjun Batra emphasized the inevitability of natural disasters but underscored the importance of preparedness to minimize their impact. He pledged ongoing support and additional emergency relief training for San Jose residents as and when needed.
During the seminar, Secretary Xu Caifeng of the Overseas Compatriot Education Center introduced the emergency relief association’s related information. Additionally, Lee Steckmest and Michael Tsai, co-founders of the San Jose Community Emergency Response Team, and their Diamond Dogs disaster training team, along with Yang Yaohong, President of the North American Taiwan Engineers Association, shared their experiences and training information on emergency relief at the event.