United in Preparedness — Ukraine and Tulsa Exchange Emergency Management Expertise
From June 6-10, Tulsa Global Alliance (TGA) was privileged to host six first responders from Ukraine through the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). The program focused on U.S. approaches to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The visit to Tulsa highlighted Oklahoma’s best practices in emergency preparedness and planning at the state and local level, the role of media in informing the public about weather emergencies, and the resilience of private sector health care facilities in the face of natural disasters.
TGA arranged for the group to meet with representatives of the Tulsa Fire Department, University of Oklahoma – Tulsa School of Community Medicine, News Channel 2 KJRH, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, and Norman Regional Moore Hospital. News Channel 2 KJRH interviewed the participants and broadcast a news story about their visit. Staff at the Norman Regional Moore Hospital spoke about their first-hand experience dealing with the May 2013 Moore tornado that devastated the hospital, and how the facility has been rebuilt to withstand future tornadoes.
News Channel 2 KJRH Meteorologist Mike Grogan Hosting Ukrainian Visitors
“I was honored to sit down and share my expertise with these incredible and resilient leaders in various fields from Ukraine. I hope they took away some helpful tools from our time together. I know I gained unique insight into how they are still able to perform emergency management in wartime. Hearing their stories and getting to collaborate internationally was such a gift. I hope they get a chance to do a follow-up visit back to the States and here in Tulsa so we can continue to strengthen and support one another.”
The participants enjoyed home hospitality with Karl Ahlgren, Honorary Consul of Ukraine, and his wife Mary Alice, who also invited members of the Tulsa Ukrainian community to join them. Karl also accompanied the group to a Tulsa Drillers baseball game.
