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CFAY, Zushi Join Forces for Disaster Preparedness

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080415-12
Release Date: 4/15/2008 1:36:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW) Chantel M. Clayton, Fleet Public Affairs Center Det. Japan

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- A memorandum of understanding for disaster preparedness and disaster response operations between Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) and the city of Zushi was signed during a formal ceremony at CFAY, April 11.

Capt. Daniel L. Weed, CFAY commanding officer and Mayor Ryuichi Hirai of Zushi City, signed the memorandum, formally acknowledging that the base and Zushi would work together in the event of a natural disaster, such as a tsunami or earthquake.

The memorandum is similar to the one signed with CFAY and Yokosuka last year.

With this memorandum, the base and Zushi City can take steps to implement plans to help service members and their families living in Zushi, such as providing food, water and shelter, in the event of a disaster. This will be done through drills conducted between the base and the city, explained Weed.

"I can say, with some level of certainty, the more we coordinate and practice drills and exercises, the better served those communities would be in the event of a disaster," said Weed.

Weed explained that although the memorandum is in place, other cities within the Kanto Plain would work together during a disaster.

"The secret to this event is being able to get together, become familiar with each other's processes for disaster maintenance, medical support, food, water, shelter, supplies, and develop drills and exercises to be able to test our policies and procedures," said Weed. "In the event of a natural disaster, we've worked through many of these issues already and can provide the swiftest, most effective support to the community as efficiently as possible."

Other agreements are in place and Weed hopes to have another signed with the city of Yokohama to support Sailors and their families living in that area.

"We haven't done anything yet with Yokohama, but that would be something we would want to pursue in the future," said Weed. "[Commander Naval Forces Japan] signed a disaster memorandum in February 2008 with the governor of the Kanagawa prefecture, which mimics some of the same initiatives."

The memorandum will have a great effect on service members and their families living in the region.

"In the event of a disaster such as a major typhoon or minor earthquake, people will be disconnected from food, water, supplies and communications," said Weed. "We have to identify where all Americans are living who are associated with Fleet Activities Yokosuka on the Kanto Plain and figure out how we are going to communicate with them to check on the status of what their needs are, and how we are going to provide food, water, shelter, medical supplies, transportation and security in the event of these natural disasters."

For more news from Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka, visit www.navy.mil/local/cfay/.