Emergency Relief for 2021 Fukushima Prefecture Offshore Earthquake
Following the magnitude 7.3 earthquake that struck offshore east of the Tohoku region on February 13, 2021, Peace Boat Disaster Relief (PBV) dispatched an emergency assistance team to the affected areas.
The earthquake caused damage to more than 20,000 houses (as of Feb. 22, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency), mainly in Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures. The accurate total number of houses damaged is still unknown and many people in the area are still living in damaged houses.
In response to a request from the Yamamoto-cho Social Welfare Council (Miyagi Prefecture), PBV started relief activities by experienced staff on March 8 to put up tarpaulins on damaged roofs. Damage to roofs, such as gaps or loss of the roof tiles, does not only causes leaks when it rains but also leads to damage to the building materials of the house if left unattended. Repair work by construction professionals is necessary, but the work cannot be done immediately due to the shortage of professionals when the damage is extensive. In some cases, it may take as long as one to two years to complete the work. It is necessary to cover the roof with tarpaulin s to prevent leaks and protect the building structure as a temporary measure until professional assistance become available. In southern Chiba, the area affected by Typhoons Faxai and Hagibis in 2019, some residents are still living under tarpaulin roofs as of March 2021, waiting for the full repairing. PBV has been working on relief projects in Chiba since the autumn of 2019 and contributed to the capacity building of local volunteers who can respond to the damage on houses. The PBV’s experience and expertise have been included in a recently published brochure which introduces the safety measures and concrete information on repairing methods, and it has been utilized during the relief work in Yamamoto-cho too.
PBV will leverage its experience in repairing roofs and preserving houses in Chiba to provide support in
cooperation and coordination with intermediary support organizations such as the Yamamoto-cho Social Welfare Council, Yamamoto-cho Town Office, JVOAD, and local support groups, including Miyagi-based non-profit organization OPEN JAPAN.
To support the relief activities in the affected communities, PBV has launched the “2021 Fukushima Earthquake Emergency Relief Fund”. Please support us to help those in challenging situations in the affected areas. We accept donations in various methods, including credit card, money transfer and through corporate giving platform, Benevity. Visit our donation page to find the most convenient method for you.
More updates will be shared on this website and the PBV Facebook page. Thank you in advance for your support!