The Cambodian community located in Irvington, Alabama held an open house for emergency preparedness partners on September 19th to celebrate the construction of the a new emergency distribution facility.

Representatives from MDC, The Community Foundation of South Alabama and Mobile County Emergency Management Agency enjoyed local cuisine, toured the new facility and the Cambodian temple. The open house coincided with a Cambodian religious ceremony which provided an opportunity for the team to meet members of the community.

MDC, a North Carolina based nonprofit with the mission of closing the gaps that separate people from opportunity, teamed up with The Community Foundation of South Alabama and FEMA to reach out to Asian residents of South Mobile County to increase disaster awareness and preparedness.

Over the past year, the joint effort has resulted in the creation of translated emergency preparedness materials and a distribution facility. The leaders of the Asian community have been trained to use Reverse 911 to broadcast emergency information to their community. And a distribution center located near the Cambodian temple will provide water, ice and food to the community following a disaster.

The most important accomplishment has been the formation of long-standing relationships between the Cambodian community and local disaster service organizations which will be of utmost importance during times of need.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 2009