It was my first time to visit Indonesia and my first time to tag along with an international disaster relief agency to learn more about how to mobilize volunteers in Japan. An earthquake had hit the area around Jogjakarta and we were traveling to remote villages that had not yet received much help. As we [...]
“But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more.” Psalm 71:14 2011 was a year of exceptional challenge to the nation and people of Japan with three disasters striking at once on March 11th, leaving almost 20,000 people dead or missing. CRASH Japan immediately sprang into action helping hundreds of churches [...]
The lone pine still standing out of thousands of trees planted to be a barrier to tsunamis in Rikuzentakata sends a powerful message. It is a message of hope of survival even in the most desperate of times. Each survivor can in some way identify with that tree. Six months from March 11th, life has [...]
Six years before the Great East Japan Disaster I started a network called CRASH (Christian Relief, Assistance, Support and Hope) to help churches and ministries in Japan respond to disasters by sending volunteers. After years of holding seminars with various mission and church groups and coordinating volunteer teams at quakes, floods and landslides in Japan, [...]
In coastal towns in Tohoku, many people are living in the top floor of their homes even though the first floor has been destroyed and their communities look like a war-zone. CRASH volunteers are helping bring these communities back.
CRASH volunteers delivering water to distribution points in Fukushima. The combination of earthquake and nuclear radiation made everyone still in Fukushima nervous about anything but bottled water. At certain times because of panic buying in Tokyo, bottled water became very difficult to find.
We are now in our fourth week since the disaster and I don’t want anyone to be ashamed of the work that we are doing with CRASH in Tohoku. It might seem that other groups are moving faster and getting more done, but we are not in a race with anyone. Indeed everyone who is helping is sharing the burden alongside those who are suffering. Our vision is a long term vision to mobilize Christian volunteers safely and effectively. We do not have to do everything and indeed cannot do everything. But because it can be hard to see the bigger picture in the midst of the daily work, here is a partial summary of what has been accomplished.
Over the course of the last three weeks, CRASH has
We are still in the early days of the response, there is so much more to do and thankfully we are not the only ones working. Please continue to pray as we work together.
God Bless You,
Jonathan Wilson
Yesterday was my first time home in the two weeks since the quake and tsunami. I was able to spend some precious time with my family and worship with my church and then came back to CRASH Command Center in Tokyo. CRASH is an organization that I founded around six years ago to coordinate Christian relief in Japan for natural disasters. The acronym stands for Christian Relief, Assistance, Support and Hope. We work to support local churches, some who are responding to the disaster and others affected by the disaster to bring help and hope to those who are suffering.
Since the quake we have become a focal point for Christian relief groups from around the world who are seeking to help and for the Japanese church as well. While we have been instrumental in bringing in hundreds of tons of relief and cooperating in its distribution our focus and goals are broader than that. I fully expect the Japanese government and Japanese Red Cross to be able to meet the physical needs of the region in a very short period of time. They are doing everything they can to respond to this crisis that has cut the very country to the core.
But imagine four times the damage of Katrina and seven times the loss of life of 9/11 in a nation that is barely the size of California and with a struggling economy roughly a third the size of the US. What does that do to a country? What does that do to a region? Now consider a family or individual waiting for help to come. The greatest thing that we have to offer Japan is hope. Hope is not something that can be shipped in a container, or airlifted in. Our teams are operating from five regional bases throughout the entire area. One team near the area evacuated around the nuclear power station described the evacuation centers as well stocked and well run, but the people as terrified. Hope is packaged not in a box but in a person. Our focus is to send thousands of volunteers to stand beside the people of Japan until the job is done. To help them clear the rubble, rebuild their homes, and find hope for the future.
Jonathan Wilson
CRASH
This just in from our CRASH assessment team and Operation Blessing
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CRASH Mobilizes Volunteers in Japan
Tokyo, Japan – March 14, 2011 – CRASH (Christian Relief, Assistance, Support, and Hope) volunteers in Tokyo are mobilizing to provide aid to victims of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake that struck the northeastern coast of Japan on Friday, March 11, 2011 at 2:46 PM.
The earthquake was the largest in Japan’s recorded history, resulting in a series of tsunami that reached heights of up to 23 feet and caused widespread damage. The Tohoku region was hardest hit in the coastal cities of Sendai and Fukushima, where hundreds are confirmed dead, and thousands are still missing.
CRASH Japan, working closely with JEMA (the Japanese Evangelical Missionary Association), has a large network of experienced volunteers who know the culture and language. CRASH Japan’s 24-hour fundraising goal is $100,000. In the last few years, CRASH leaders have coordinated relief efforts in China, Haiti, Indonesia, New Zealand, and other major disaster areas.
On Monday, March 14th, CRASH sent four survey teams to the Tohoku region by train, car, and motorcycle as early as 12:00 am to assess the damage, find staging grounds, and make contact with local communities to prioritize their needs. Additional survey teams will be sent out later in the week.
Teams are facing a situation that is complex, dynamic, and challenging. Communication has been difficult. Cell phones in Tokyo are overextended, and service is unavailable in affected disaster areas. Gas and electricity are being rationed in Tokyo and are incredibly scarce in disaster areas. According to CRASH hospitality worker Bola Taylor, food provisions are also short: “There were 150 people waiting in line at the grocery store for simple ramen, rice, and toilet paper. The shelves were all empty; it was very unnerving.”
CRASH Japan is using funds to purchase vital equipment, such as satellite phones, printers, computers, and wireless routers. This equipment will be used to facilitate communication between the Tokyo command center and cities where infrastructure has been weakened or destroyed. According to Intel Coordinator David Sedlacek, satellite phones are the most crucial tool in making contact with disaster areas and isolating relief needs.
A vast majority of Japan identifies religiously as either Buddhist or Shinto, or both. Only 1.5% of Japan’s population identifies as Christian, but churches all over the country have volunteered their resources in a coordinated effort with CRASH to offer aid to those who are suffering.
According to JEMA President Dale Little, “CRASH is the second-to-none relief network in Japan. No other agency is able to assess the needs on the ground like CRASH, and then take steps toward meeting those needs. The effectiveness of CRASH includes linking closely with local churches in Japan.”
JEMA Vice-President Ken Taylor also commented, “CRASH held its first strategy meeting today (March 13). Many were in attendance from mission agencies and other interested parties. There is a spirit of cooperation and desire to assist in reaching those in need effectively, relevantly, and spiritually.”
About the disaster, CRASH Japan director Jonathan Wilson made the following statement: “Many of us are wondering how we can best respond to the news of the earthquake and tsunami that have devastated Japan. As the television screens pour out images, we pour out our hearts to the Creator to take care of this great nation.
CRASH Japan, a non-profit established for just a time as this, exists to help victims of disasters. We have experienced people who know the culture and language on the ground ready to assess the situation and take appropriate action. Please consider how YOU might be able to help right now by giving a donation that will “kick start” our Tokyo based disaster relief initiative.”
Donations can be made through:
JEMA’s website, www.jema.org, and through Horizon Christian Fellowship’s web site (tax deductible receipt provided):
https://www.horizonsd.org/donate/index.asp?purpose=japan_earthquake_relief
PayPal (no tax deductible receipt):
Donate a daily tweet to spread awareness: http://www.justcoz.org/operationsafe
Press Contact:
Paul Nethercott
CRASH Fundraising & Press Coordinator
Matsukawa Place, Tokyo, Japan
Phone (from outside Japan): 011-81-80-3172-2813
In Japan: 080-3172-2813
Email: crashjapanpaul@me.com
It is now early in the morning on the 4th day after the quake – yesterday I led a team that set up a command center in Tokyo to coordinate disaster relief. Our mission will be to mobilize thousands of volunteer groups from across Japan and around the world safely and effectively to help Japan in her hour of need.
The situation is very fluid and unstable – this is a very complex emergency involving quake, tsunami and nuclear elements. The effects on the world’s largest city, Tokyo, cannot be underestimated. Today we will have rolling blackouts, there were long lines for rationed gasoline yesterday and none available today, and store shelves are emptying quickly of food.
We have four assessment teams on their way to the affected regions.
Our first priority is to find and establish regional bases from which we can safely deploy volunteers in the relief and recovery phases.
Jonathan Wilson
Director
CRASH (Christian Relief Assistance Support and Hope)
I am responsible for coordinating Christian Relief in Japan and am working in coordination with a number of agencies to set up a command center in Tokyo and regional bases of operation in the various regions affected by the disaster. This appeal was just sent out by our task force. We will be mobilizing relief volunteers, aiding in recovery and of course will be highly involved with helping children recover from trauma.
Jonathan Wilson
OperationSAFE
Christian Relief Assistance Support and Hope (CRASH)
Many of us are wondering how we can best respond to the devastating news of the earthquakes and tsunami that have hurt especially Fukushima, Miyagi, and Iwate ken. As the computer and television screens pour out images, we can pour out our hearts to the Creator of the Universe to take care of the great nation of Japan.
CRASH Japan, a non-profit established for just a time as this, exists to help victims of disasters. We have experienced people who know the culture and language on the ground ready to assess the situation and then take appropriate action. Please consider how YOU might be able to help right now by giving a donation that will “kick start” our Tokyo based disaster relief initiative.
CRASH Japan is strongly endorsed by JEMA (Japan Evangelical Missionary Association) and comes highly recommended by Dale Little, JEMA President. http://crashjapan.com/
24 HOUR FUNDING GOAL: $100,000 (send a donation using one of the following options)
Donate via Horizon Christian Fellowship web site (tax deductible receipt provided):
Donate via PayPal (no tax deductible receipt):
Donate in Japan via the JEMA postal furikae account:
Account#00130-4-180466 (Please specify “earthquake relief” in the message box.)
In a typical disaster or crisis situation, there are many pressures on families. The adults have to deal with a number of external issues that put the family at risk, such as finding food, water, medicine and shelter or avoiding danger whether that be from natural or human sources. Even in less dangerous situations, there are still plenty of things on a parent’s mind such as insurance claims, government forms to fill out, or even how to get to work with roads and transit interrupted. With all of this swirling around them it is easy for a parent to simply want their children to do what they are told and be on their best behavior until the crisis has passed. However, things are not quite so simple. Depending on the age of the child, they will respond to the heightened amount of stress in a number of ways that can be misinterpreted by parents as acting up, being immature or even rebellion. Given the increased amount of stress the parent is under as well, it is temping to give a harsh rebuke or punishment when what the child needs most is encouragement and understanding. Parents in the midst of crisis need to be reminded that they are their child’s best defense against the lasting psychological effects of trauma and given helpful hints on how to allay their child’s fears and restore peace to their shaken world.
During the recent earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand and the uprisings in the Middle East, OperationSAFE has been using social media such as facebook and twitter to inform parents how to protect their children from trauma. Volunteers have translated articles and tweets into Arabic such as Emotional Care for Children arabic which have been posted to hashtags such as #libya, #egypt, #tunisia, and #bahrain which have then been relayed through many sites in the Middle East reporting on the uprisings. Our hope is that this information can be spread widely through troubled regions where children are being exposed to violence and uncertainty about the future. Likewise we have been posting to #eqnz, the Christchurch Quake hashtag, at intervals throughout the day 21 tips for parents in short easily remembered pieces of advice such as,
10) Tips for Parents! Calmly provide factual information about the recent disaster to your children http://bit.ly/bGneSz #eqnz #opsafe
19) Tips for Parents! Admit your concerns children, but stress your ability to cope. http://bit.ly/bGneSz #eqnz #opsafe
While we would hope that everyone could read and remember how to protect their children from trauma before a crisis, of course many do not. So these small reminders with links back to further information can be vital. These tips and links have once again been picked up and spread by other sites reporting on the quake exposing more parents to the information they need in the time of crisis as well as being “liked”, “shared” and “RT’d” but thousands of supporters worldwide on Facebook and Twitter who are keeping the children in these areas of crisis in their thoughts and prayers.
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