PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) -
A group of city managers from Japan shared their firsthand knowledge of dealing with a disaster.
They spoke today in downtown Portland at a panel discussion called Waves of Despair, Tides of Hope.
They addressed their experiences dealing with the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that killed nearly 16,000 people in Japan, including the initial disaster response and long-term recovery efforts.
The hope is that their lessons may boost disaster preparedness should anything similar ever hit this region.
The panelists are part of a group of 30 Japanese municipal managers who are visiting Portland for a week of intense professional training hosted by Portland State University's Center for Public Service and The Tokyo Foundation.
They are studying civic engagement in Portland on projects such as the city's composting initiative and the Portland Public Schools' high school system design program.
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