NEWS LETTER②①④31vol.

Winter 2023③⑤① Earthquake-affected area in Suzu City, Ishikawa Pref. ② Wakuwaku Disaster Prevention Workshop was held in Saga Pref. ③ Electric trucks played an active role in heavy
rain-affected areas. ④ Cleaning up of houses is underway in Iwaki City, Fukushima Pref. ⑤ A relief supplies distribution event in Iwaki City.

Oku-Noto Earthquake/July Heavy Rains/Typhoon 13

Overcoming Repeated Disasters and Preparing for the Next
This year Japan was again repeatedly hit by disasters. In May,
Oku-Noto Earthquake occurred in Ishikawa Prefecture. In July,
the active seasonal rain front led to the formation of linear
rainbands in northern Kyushu and other parts of Japan, floodingbuildings and farmlands. In September, Typhoon 13 hit Fukushima,Ibaraki, and Chiba, damaging over 3,000 houses.
Since these disasters the people of the affected areas seem tobe gradually returning to business as usual. However, as people
start to find some relief after going through the daily struggle
they might suddenly feel physical and psychological fatigue. They
also need to prepare for the winter cold and for the New Year.
Although Civic Force has completed its search-and-rescue
operations and relief item distribution, we continue to visit
affected people and meet needs for new supplies and services.

In this newsletter, we look back on this year’s natural
disasters and our assistance activities in affectedareas. We also report on our recent endeavors in
disaster prevention and disaster mitigation.

We Welcome
Your Donation!
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Supporting
Disaster-Affected
Areas

Looking Back on Disasters in 2023 and Preparing
for the Next Emergency

Disasters occurred one after another in various parts of Japan.
Disaster relief activities in 2023 are described below.

A K I TAI S H I K AWA

SAGA/FUKUOKA

Oku-Noto Earthquake in May

Heavy Rains in Kyushu/

Akita in July

June

Ishikawa/Oku-Noto Earthquake ISHIKAWA
On May 5, 2023, an earthquake with a seismic intensity of 6+ hit the Noto region of Ishikawa
Prefecture. Many buildings were damaged in Suzu City resulting in 4,108 applications for disastervictim certificates submitted to the local authorities as of October. Fortunately, the demolition
and reconstruction of the damaged houses is progressing. In parallel with emergency relief
activities, Civic Force launched a NPO Partner Project in July and has worked with the NGO
Collaboration Center in the disaster affected areas to prevent the decline of communities.

Typhoon 13 in September
AugustHeavy Rains in Kyushu

FUKUSHIMA

October

SAGA/FUKUOKA

Typhoon 13

FUKUSHIMA

Until October, Civic Force provided high-pressure washers,
ventilation fans, tank trucks and other equipment necessary forcleaning up houses in Fukuoka and Saga Prefectures. In Saga Cityand Karatsu City, where farmland restoration has begun, weprovided materials and equipment such as electric wagons andportable power supplies.

Electric Wagon to Carry Sandbags
Civic Force is helping to clean up and rebuild damaged buildings in theaffected cities of Karatsu and Saga. We borrowed table and chairs for office
work, tents for storing supplies, and other materials and equipment from
Civic Force and the electric wagon was especially helpful in clearing away
heavy sandbags and dirt to clean up damaged houses at work sites where
there were a lot of slopes. We will continue our activities as farmland
restoration and rebuilding livelihoods will be in full swing.

Civic Force has visited 20 affected houses so far. Many people have yet to rebuild their houses due to financial reasonsor have been hesitant to ask for help from busy carpenters and contractors.

Supporting Reconstruction with Door-to-Door Visitsand Housing Consultations

The earthquake was followed by a series of aftershocks and more buildings were in danger ofcollapse so we entered Suzu City to support the restoration. After the Great East Japan
Earthquake, public spending for building demolition resumed and many have been
demolished in recent years without careful consideration. They could have been used again if
appropriately repaired. We are working with the Building Restoration Support Network which
promotes restoration techniques in Suzu City and the Regional Comprehensive Support
Center of Suzu City. They provide victims with essential information including expert
knowledge and past examples of damage through door-to-door visits and reconstruction
consultations. Through these efforts we support victims so that they can continue toreconstruct their livelihoods without giving up.
Mr. Ryota Yorimasa, Representative for the NGO Collaboration Center

115 Needs Matching Cases to Date
This year we were able to provide relief supplies through “Good Links,” an online
matching platform operated by Civic Force. As of September 30, 2023, Good
Links has 43 registered members and has completed 115 cases of matching
victims' needs and the supplies, reaching more than 6,000 people including
single parents and families in need.
※Good Links is available to non-profit organizations that are engaged in ongoing disaster relief activities. Aid organizations can use

the “Request (Wish List) Registration” to register items needed in their disaster area. For more information,please contact our office at gl@civic-force.org.

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Mr. Takaaki Shinnaka, Saga Disaster Relief Platform (SPF)

NPO PartnerProjects

Heavy Rain in Akita

AKITA

Assistance was provided to 13 municipalities in Akita Prefecture after heavy rain caused landslides in July. In
collaboration with Miyagi-based NPO, OPEN JAPAN, Civic Force lent 200 circulators to affected houses and conducted
needs assessments in Akita City and Gojome Town.

Circulators effectively dried underfloor space!
Civic Force investigated housing damage in Akita City and helped drain water. In his 60s with a physical disability, Mr. N
found that the floor of his house in the Narayama area was inundated with water. Since he had a cat and couldn’t leave
the windows and the entrance open, he used a circulator Civic Force prepared to dry the wet floor and walls. He said, “I
had trouble with humidity inside the house but the circulator accelerated the drying. I had previously given up on living
in my home but I now have hope. I appreciate your great support.”Mr. Pauro Fukuchi, OPEN JAPANHeavy Rain in July/Typhoon 13

Thanks forYour Donation & Support

A series of floods and water outages
occurred mainly in the northern
Kanto region. In Iwaki City, Fukushima
Prefecture, 1,155 houses were damaged,
1,261 houses were inundated above
the floor, and 481 were inundated
below the floor (as of September28). Civic Force delivered relief
supplies such as portable stovesand clothing in late September andearly November through Teco, a general incorporated association in Iwaki
City, which organizes local community spaces.

People received supplies, crying for joy“I heard people in severely inundated areas couldn’t use thekitchen for more than a month and some said, ‘It is inconvenient
not to be able to cook.’ When I asked Civic Force for portable
stoves they delivered them with other items like clothing andcontinued to provide in-kind support. It was very helpful. Some ofthe people cried for joy when receiving the supplies at thedistribution center. I really appreciate all your support.”
Ms. Maki Onuma, Representative Director, Teco

From July 2023 to the end of October, we received 5,928,454 yen (including 15% handling fees and operating expenses)
in donations from many people and used them for our support activities. Thank you very much for your great support!
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We are undertaking various efforts to develop our emergency preparedness
mechanism. This page introduces media coverage of our activities andinformation associated with our partner organizations.

Amazon’s Disaster Relief HubOpened in Sagamihara

Regina Clinic "SDGs Plan”
Brilliance+ “secret stone”

SUNNAP (sales limited in ASKUL)“Phase-free Certified Paper Cup with Measurement”
Hondana-Otasuke-Tai “Donation by Selling Second-Hand Books”

Disaster Prevention Event in Akita Prefecture

Season LLC “Charity Brand BeMee”

On October 1, “Minna de Bosai
collabs with Catch Ball Classic” washeld at Nipro Hachiko Dome in Odate
City, Akita Prefecture and over 100
children participated.

Attended “Tasukaru Ippo Project”
On September 28, “Tasukaru Ippo Project,” a disaster prevention
enlightenment symposium organized by Japan Professional BaseballPlayers Association (JPBPA), was held in Tokyo where Kaori Neki
attended as a panelist.

Wakuwaku Disaster Prevention
Workshop for FamiliesOn October 29, Civic Force held theWakuwaku Disaster Prevention Workshop
in Miyaki-cho, Saga Prefecture. Nine
local families took part in the event. The
participants visited the local disasterprevention center, were quizzed, andtasted emergency foods.

Media Coverage
23.09.26

Newspaper

The Saga Shimbun

Great East Japan Earthquake
Yahoo! Net Donation
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or services.

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Become a monthly supporter and you can donate a fixed amount eachmonth (in 1,000 yen units) and help prepare for future large-scaledisasters.
●Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation :Aoyama Branch Account No. 6953964●Japan Post Bank : 00140-6-361805(Account holder’ s name of the above banks is“Civic Force”)●Credit card : Please check the “Donate Now!”
section of the Civic Force website below▶

23.09.28

Newspaper

The Yomiuri Shimbun and many others“Amazon opened its second domestic Disaster Relief Hub at theAmazon Fulfillment Center in Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Pref.”23.09.28

Newspaper

Nikkan Sports“JPBPA participated in a disaster prevention enlightenment event.
‘Players can get the messages across through their communication
ability,’ said Secretary-General Tadahito Mori.”

23.11.10

Newspaper

Akita Sakigake Shimpo“Collaboration between Minna de Bosai and Catch Ball Classic was heldin eastern Japan for the first time.”

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SNS
Civic ForcePrevious newsletters▼
https://www.civic-force.org/news/newsletter/

Subscribe to updates from the disaster areas▼
https://www.civic-force.org/mailmagazine/index.html

translated by ILV of the YWCA of Tokyo“Civic Force gave cardboard partitions to Motoyama-cho,
Saga Pref. to secure privacy at evacuation centers”

Head office : Tomigaya Ogawa Bldg.2F,2-41-12 Tomigaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, JAPAN 151-0063

EC Navi “Smile Project”

e-mail : info@civic-force.org

Players Fund

Publisher : Civic Force

Hometown tax payment program

vol.31

Empower “Donation with Goods at Kaitori Daikichi”

Saga office : Marunaka Bldg. 6F, 1-3-5 Matsubara, Saga City, Saga Prefecture, JAPAN 840-0831

On October 20, a legacy giving
seminar titled, “How about leaving
your thoughts for the Future ofSaga,” was held in Saga City.

Value Books: “Charibon”

TEL : +81-3-5790-9366

Legacy Giving Seminar

General Donations

Winter 2023

A new storage center for disaster
relief supplies, Disaster Relief Hub,opened on the site of the Amazon
Fulfilment Center in Sagamihara
City, Kanagawa Prefecture. KaoriNeki, Executive Director, attended
the opening event on September 28.

Support Our Activities Easily

NEWS LETTER

Creating an Emergency
Preparedness Mechanism