Soon after the 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck Japan, Convoy of Hope’s Disaster Response team established connection with in-country partners who have been impacted by the damage and are identifying the needs and areas where Convoy of Hope may be of the greatest assistance.
“It’s the fifth-largest earthquake ever recorded,” says Kary Kingsland, senior vice president of Global Initiatives for Convoy of Hope. “Now we are monitoring the tsunami waves that are headed for Hawaii and the West Coast and we will respond to the needs in Japan and in the United States as needed.”
The earthquake struck Japan’s coast at 11:46 p.m. CST, March 10. Dozens of aftershocks followed and 20 tsunami warnings were issued to 20 countries in the Pacific Rim.
If the tsunami causes major devastation on the West Coast, Convoy of Hope will deploy teams and supplies to devastated areas.
Ron Showers, director of Global Outreach, is in Honolulu making preparations for an upcoming community outreach. Last night he left his hotel and moved to higher ground after tsunami sirens started to sound.
“Thousands of people fled the low-lying areas,” he says. “Gas stations were packed with people trying to get fuel, many locals and tourists fled to high ground and sought shelter in hospitals and high school gyms.”
Showers will monitor the situation in Hawaii after the tsunami hits.
According to Kingsland, the Disaster Response team will closely monitor further developments and move forward with plans to help the victims of the disasters.
Convoy of Hope is not seeking volunteers at this time.
