Shelter Box Tsunami Earthquake Response Team Deployed

ShelterBox Response Team members are on the ground in Japan less than 24 hours after the earthquake and tsunami struck yesterday. Rotarians Lasse Petersen, Mark Pearson, John Diksa and David Eby are now working with local authorities to assess the areas of most need. 

Police in Japan say that 215,000 people have fled their homes, and there are reports that whole villages have been swept away.  Tens of thousands of people in the area surrounding the Fukushima 1 nuclear power plant, where a large explosion occurred, have also been urged to evacuate, compounding the need for emergency shelter.  

Significant loss of life and widespread damage has occurred and emergency shelter requirements will be a priority as overnight temperatures fall below freezing.

Speaking from Tokyo, Mark Pearson said: Our efforts will initially be focused on Japan's north where the worst affected areas are.  We have aid ready to move as soon as we establish where the greatest need is".  ShelterBox maintains a pre-positioned stock of boxes at key locations around the world enabling the organization to repond quickly to requests for aid for families in need.