Japan Disaster: Relief & Recovery

In late August, torrential rains triggered floods and landslides in Saga and Fukaoka Prefectures.  The City of Saga seen in the photo was heavily hit.  The government authorities of the Fire and Disasters Management Agency ordered more than 900,000 people to evacuate their homes.

Peace Winds quickly responded with emergency relief and moving evacuees to centers, supplying the centers with food and water, and air conditioning fans.  Now Peace Winds is aiding by cleaning houses, and helping people, who are able, return to their homes.   Peace Winds is providing linens, kitchen utensils, and small appliances.

Until the late summer floods, natural disasters had been infrequent in 2019, in contrast to 2018.  Peace Winds has been focusing on disaster preparedness in the Western Japan.  Though Japan is one of the most disaster prepared nations, Peace Winds continues to work with officials, communities, schools, and individuals providing preparedness training, construction skills/techniques, and mobility/escape methods and routes.   

2016 - 2019

Peace Winds assisted over 1,500 families living in temporary housing complexes. The stress of temporary housing–including small accommodations, limited privacy, reduced access to resources, and the uncertainty of moving out–is overwhelming. Vulnerable populations such as the elderly are at even greater risk for health issues.

Peace Winds worked with communities in hosting weekly community events and social activities to “build community” and to prevent isolation, as well as provided mental health counseling. Peace Winds supported local township leaders in each of the 24 temporary housing communities through training and administrative costs to meet the needs of the residents.  Peace Winds will continue providing pet-friendly environments and ensure the animals get the care and attention needed for their recovery as well.

In April 2016, two devastating earthquakes shook Japan’s Kumamoto prefecture. Peace Winds responded immediately to assist survivors, dispatching a search-and-rescue team, setting up temporary shelters and tents, and delivering relief supplies, including food, water, medicine, and hygiene kits.

PWA blogs highlighted Peace Winds response from April 2016 search-and-rescue to the training of community township leaders, from construction of tents to temporary housing, from dispatching household appliances to rescuing pets and building animal shelters.

 Through the remainder of programming, Peace Winds was committed to the 1,500 families of the Mashiki-Kumamoto temporary housing complex. Peace Winds continues to collaborate with the 24 township leaders, the social and mental health counselors, the activity managers, the pet shelters, and the elderly–providing care to ensure long-term recovery.

A special thanks to the individual and business donors that contributed to the success of our programming. We would like to specifically recognize the Kumamoto Kenjin Kai of Seattle for their invaluable support to these communities.