Typhoon Hagibis Japan
Situation Report #3
November 8, 2019

Clean up efforts ongoing through ecumenical collaboration (Photo: CWS Japan)

The effects of Typhoon Hagibis, which made landfall in Japan on October 12, 2019, continues
to be felt by thousands of vulnerable in the country’s central regions. Widespread torrential
rains that, in just two days produced 30%-40% of Japan’s usual annual rainfall, combined withstrong winds, flooding and landslides led to Category 5 warnings to “… to save your life” in13 prefectures; 7+ million people were warned to evacuate.
By November 8th, 95 people – 70% age 60 or older – had died; 5 people were missing, anddamaged more than 55,000 houses. (Source: Cabinet Office)
The Typhoon caused at least 805 landslides in 20 prefectures for an historically high numberof sediment disasters caused by one Typhoon. (Source: Yomiuri News)
Typhoon Hagibis direct impacts have now been felt in 20 prefectures. It remains nearlyimpossible to find skilled carpenters to repair roofs/houses, and there is significant shortage ofvolunteers to get on with recovery work –particularly for very vulnerable families, including
single elderly people and families with disabled member, who cannot receover without help.
CWS Japan and National Christian Council in Japan, partnering as the ACT Japan Forum1, havebeen leading the response in Tateyama, Chiba prefecture. To understand the precise needs ofeach household in the area, Forum members are working with a local partner Awa Bunka Isan
(heritage) Forum and Operation Blessing Japan to strengthen volunteer coordination andmanagement.
Among the needs identified so far, elderly community members are seeking help to remove
debris, especially downed trees, from their yards. While civilian volunteers could help clean up
and move a lot of debris, they could not clear larger trees…even with a chainsaw. So, forsafety and efficiency, CWS Japan mobilized Kazegumi Kanto, an association of skilled
professionals, like carpenters and fire fighters, to deploy heavy machinery, trucks and skilled
operators to remove larger fallen trees.

Kazegumi Kanto’s support in removing large fallen tree (Photo:CWS Japan)

Besides tree removal, people urgently need roof repairs and mold mitigation. Volunteers whohave helped so far include Rev. Christian Zebley from Tokyo Union Church, who mobilized
church and family members for service.

1

https://actalliance.org/

Volunteers and CWS Japan staff, together with a community member who requested assistance (Photo:CWS Japan)

To some people, cleaning the houses and yards seem like a small thing, but for vulerable
people and families, these first steps for pesonal and community recovery, are impossible on
their own. Without volunteers, nothing would even start. So, CWS Japan and partners willcontinue mobilzing as much support as we can to help the most-affected people until theyregain a sense of balance in their daily lives.

The assistance is planned and carried out in partnership withNational Christian Council in Japanas as a joint collaboration within ACT Forum Japan.

Contact:

Emergency Appeal Bank Account:Takeshi Komino

Account Name: CWS Japan

General Secretary

Account Number: 331-0333754

CWS Japan

Bank Name: MUFG Bank, Ltd

Tel: 03-5577-4538

Branch: KANDA (branch number 331)

Email: t.komino@cwsjapan.org

Swift Code: BOTKJPJT