2024 Ishikawa (Noto) Earthquake & Rain Response

The Noto Peninsula (Ishikawa) Earthquake highlighted a major concern for disaster response in Japan - the lack of manpower. The affected areas face an uncertain future and Civic Force is focusing on preventing isolation and disaster-related deaths in tandem with four organizations that work in affected areas such as Oku Noto area and Kanazawa City. Please see below for a summary of our activities in response to the Ishikawa Earthquake from May-August.

NPO Partner Project - BIG UP Ishinomaki - Providing Transportation

In response to people having lost their means of transportation, BIG UP Ishinomaki, based in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, has been providing a car service since April. Users of the service reached over 250. People who continued secondary evacuation in areas such as Kaga, Komatsu, Hakusan, Takaoka, and Kanazawa used the service to go back
home or to move back and forth between their affected houses and temporary houses. With a desire to pass on the experience of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the members listen to the problems of the affected people and offer advice on the drive to their destinations. Not only do they provide transportation, but they also try to understand the situation of individuals and offer proper support for them. BIG UP Ishinomaki also continues operating shower booths in Suzu City. The shower booths set up in the prefectural gymnasium are going to be open until autumn to meet local people’s needs.

NPO Partner Project - The NGO Collaboration Center for HANSHIN QUAKE Rehabilitation - Preventing Isolation

“After the earthquake thirty years ago, many people died alone. We don’t want to let the same thing happen again.” To make use of the lesson learned from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, after which over the next five years 250 people died alone, the NGO Collaboration Center in Kobe promptly started emergency support at evacuation centers in Nanao City after the Noto Peninsula Earthquake. They continue providing support for individuals such as visiting affected houses in Wajima City and Anamizu City and dispatching a “Foot Bath Team” who lend an ear to the evacuees in community center.

NPO Partner Project - Hokuriku Gakuin University Disaster Area Support Center - Deploying Student Volunteers

While labor shortages are serious in the disaster areas, Hokuriku Gakuin University Disaster Area Support Center in Kanazawa City sends their student volunteers to areas such as Wajima City and Noto Town. They have carried on various activities, including cleaning shelters and victims’ homes, washing photos, and creating gathering spaces at temporary housing and for secondary evacuees around Kanazawa City, and safe places for kids. They also have played a role as a hub which connects the disaster areas and university students across Japan who want to take action for the victims. Going forward, they are going to implement programs such as coordinating social events at public spaces.

NPO Partner Project - Small Cove Project - Making Places for Evacuees

The Small Cove Project, started by the owner of Café Cove and others, is running a small café in front of Kanazawa Station to provide a gathering space for evacuees. It encourages people to take a step forward in their recovery while enjoying handmade healthy food and sharing anxiety and concerns of evacuation life. In May, they temporally opened another “Small Cove” for seven days in Kanazawa City for evacuees who couldn’t come all the way to the station, and a total of 284 people visited.

Thank you for your continuing to support Civic Force!