Shelter Box - May 2011 Update
Posted by Linda Flynn
on May 10, 2011
Canadian Ron Noseworthy reflects on Japan
On Friday March 11 one of the largest earthquakes the modern world has ever known struck off the north east coast of Japan. The earthquake triggered a massive tsunami that, when it reached Japan's coast, was more than 10m high and travelling at speeds close to 500km per hour.Canadian ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) member Ron Noseworthy recently returned from volunteering in the hardest-hit regions of northern Japan, providing ShelterBoxes to families that lost their homes and all their possessions. He spoke about his experience in Japan.
This has been a very complex disaster to handle. We have been dealing with blocked roads, difficult access through mountains to the seaport cities, fuel shortages, after shocks, cold weather and, of course, the threat posed by the Fukushima nuclear plant".
Amoung the families Ron has helped were this mother and her three children
. She was at home at the time of the earthquake and, after hearing sirens, ran outside and saw the wave coming. She ran with her three children ahead of the wave to find higher ground. The family survived but lost everything, including their home.
. She was at home at the time of the earthquake and, after hearing sirens, ran outside and saw the wave coming. She ran with her three children ahead of the wave to find higher ground. The family survived but lost everything, including their home.Ron also said that "in all disasters, as ShelterBox Response Team members, we are the beneficiaries of many expressions of gratitude for our relief equipment. Japan is no exception however, this gratitude is intended for our many donors and Rotarian supporters, without whose generous contributions to ShelterBox, we would not be able to provide the critical tents and supplies to disaster victims who have lost everything."