Japan: Aid Work for 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake and Torrential Rain Damage
Panasonic Group employees who took part as volunteers
From October 11 to 14 fifteen employees of the Panasonic Group volunteered to join recovery efforts for houses inundated above floor level in Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, which suffered torrential rains at the end of September. This is the second such local volunteer effort this fiscal year, following support organized by volunteer centers in Suzu City and Nanao City in late April.
Suzu City has made little progress in recovery in the more than half a year since the Noto Peninsula Earthquake on January 1, 2024. Many houses are still in danger of collapsing and emergency measures remain in place on roads. The disaster-stricken city then suffered torrential rains at the end of September, with several rivers in the city flooding. This resulted in further severe damage to the city, with more houses collapsing due to mudslides or being inundated above floor level.
Houses still in danger of collapse since the earthquake
Houses collapsed due to embankments eroded by flooding rivers
This aid work, just like the last one, was done with the cooperation of the Joint Committee for Coordinating and Supporting Voluntary Disaster Relief (Shien-P),1 and in collaboration with the local disaster volunteer center. The shortage of people to remove mud and waste from inundated houses in the disaster-stricken area led to a call for employee volunteers, favoring those who have completed the disaster volunteer training courses.2
Driftwood in the houses was carried out and mud accumulated below them was removed by bucket brigades onto trucks. The volunteers carefully conducted themselves with thought to the feelings of the victims, garnering much praise from the local residents.
- A network organization for cooperation between companies, councils of social welfare, NPOs, and the Central Community Chest of Japan aiming to lay the groundwork for disaster volunteer efforts.
- The Panasonic Group has continued to hold in-company disaster volunteer training courses in collaboration with Shien-P since 2019, with approximately 2,000 participants so far.
Removing mud from inundated houses
