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How We Are Helping After the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami

Posted on March 14th, 2011 by Gloria Huang

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Photo from Japanese Red Cross

Update 3/16/11: From the Japanese Red Cross: “At a time when the Japanese Red Cross is providing medical assistance, blankets, and other humanitarian care to tens of thousands of Japanese who have been devastated by earthquakes, a tsunami, and evacuations occasioned by nuclear power crises, the Japanese Red Cross is extremely grateful for the financial assistance being provided by the American people and the American Red Cross,” said Naoki Kokawa, Director, International Department of the Japanese Red Cross.

Update 3/15/11: We’ve made an initial financial contribution of 10 million dollars to the Japanese Red Cross. Read more here.

We’ve received an incredible amount of support from the public following the devastating earthquake in Japan and ensuing Pacific tsunami last Friday. As always, we are grateful for your support and will channel your donations in a way that is both responsible and effective in meeting the survivors’ humanitarian needs.

We’ve also noticed that there is some confusion about how the American Red Cross works to provide aid in a situation like this. Below is an explanation that should help clarify.

Officials from the Japanese Red Cross have indicated they would be grateful for donations from the American Red Cross to support their earthquake and tsunami response. The American Red Cross also aided the Japanese during the Kobe earthquake in 1995, and they, in turn, sent us help during 9-11 and Katrina.

We’ve established a designation for Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami relief. This designation targets relief not only in Japan, but in many other locations that were affected by the Pacific tsunami, including Hawaii and parts of the US West Coast.

As many of you may know, the American Red Cross is a member of the world’s largest humanitarian network, comprising the International Committee of the Red Cross and 186 national societies. In this case, the Japanese Red Cross is a strong national society; in fact, they dispatched 95 response teams within the first 48 hours after the quakes hit.

In order to respect the independence of each country’s national society, the American Red Cross only responds to a disaster overseas with the permission of the Red Cross or Red Crescent national society in the affected country. When a Red Cross in another country reaches out for international assistance following a disaster, we can respond by deploying skilled people, mobilizing relief supplies or providing financial assistance. The American Red Cross has a cadre of emergency response workers, who are specially trained in international emergency operations.

At the request of the Japanese Red Cross, we dispatched a disaster management expert from Washington, DC to Japan for a week-long mission yesterday. She will serve on a seven person international team focused on providing high level support and advice to the Japanese Red Cross.

We may provide cash for the rapid purchase of the most needed supplies. If supplies are not available in the affected country, we can release stocks of disaster relief items from our warehouses stationed around the world.

Our support will continue as the full impact of the earthquake and resulting tsunami becomes more clear. We will continue to work with the Japanese Red Cross and provide assistance as determined through this partnership. Our assistance is made possible by the generous contributions from our donors.

Filed under: Disaster Response, International

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119 Responses to “How We Are Helping After the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami”

  1. Lesley Mapes, on March 16th, 2011 at 11:17 am Said:

    In 2006, my neighborhood and home became flooded under ten feet of water. I had always heard suspicious stories about the Red Cross but I can testify that the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the local Humane Society stepped forward to help us with sheltler, food/water, clean-up, volunteers, and housing for pets. These organizations already have procedures in place to assist people. I can testify that these organizations due a great hands-on job of helping people.

  2. Rebecca, on March 16th, 2011 at 11:54 am Said:

    A Japanese family could stay in my home. I want to help, but don’ t know how to do this????

  3. Carol G, on March 16th, 2011 at 11:56 am Said:

    Wendy, thank you for your patience and diplomacy in repeatedly answering the same questions! You must be a saint.

  4. Eric Sherrill, on March 16th, 2011 at 12:02 pm Said:

    Hello,
    I’m a Japanese speaker (MA, Japanese Lit., lived in Northern Japan ’95-’97) and I have computer and video conferencing skills. I’d like to volunteer my skills to help out, either here or in Japan.
    Thank you.

  5. Yuki, on March 16th, 2011 at 12:03 pm Said:

    Thank you so much for all your help. It warms my heart to see so many people from all over the world trying to help Japan. I currently reside in Los Angeles but have been in close contact with my relatives in Japan. I appreciate some of those who made comments about volunteering in Japan. At this time, with help from Japanese Self Defense Force and U.S. Military, unless you are professionally trained to respond to a disaster, there may be other ways to help rather than volunteering. If you insist, you may contact Japanese NPOs such as Japanese Red Cross, Japanese Salvation Army and others that are helping in Japan. Please be advised that if you don’t speak Japanese, communication with them may be difficult as not many Japanese staff speak English.

    For those who wish to make donations directly to Japan, (I hope you don’t mind me posting this on your website) you are able to do so through Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles. Their website is http://www.la.us.emb-japan.go.jp/. They are currently accepting checks and they also have information on how to transfer funds to Japanese Red Cross.

    I just wanted to have the information available to you.

    From what I hear from my relatives in Japan, they are in serious need of water, food, gas, kerosene, and lots of prayers. My sister lives in Tokyo and while I was on the phone with her for 15 minutes last night, there were 2 earthquakes both greater than M5.0. So many aftershocks and the potential nuclear plant meltdown continue to pose a great threat to those who live in Tohoku and Kanto regions. People in Japan are uniting as one and trying their best to lift each other up. We appreciate any help from anyone in the world.

    Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart….!

  6. Yuki, on March 16th, 2011 at 12:12 pm Said:

    P.S. For those who are offering places for Japanese families, I believe most of the people’s goals are to stay in Japan. Not many Japanese people have permanent resident cards, which means, they are only able to stay in the U.S. up to 3 months without any visa. There is also a language barrier. Your kindness towards our people in Japan is very much appreciated and if I hear anything from anyone wanting to move to the U.S., I will direct them to you. Thank you.

  7. Kristal, on March 16th, 2011 at 12:14 pm Said:

    Wendy,

    My company is currently in the midst of an organization wide fund raising event for charities of employees’ choice. If people ask how they donate directly to relief in Japan through our own system, is there a specific 501c3 designation that we can direct them too?

  8. tomo, on March 16th, 2011 at 12:56 pm Said:

    Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
    I’d like to hug everybody who donated.
    People help people.
    I am a Japanese living in the U.S. and I will never forget what you all did to my home country.
    The circle of help goes around.

  9. Miles, on March 16th, 2011 at 1:06 pm Said:

    I work at a youth center and we were looking for some ideas to help fund raise/donate for Japan. We don’t have much money but would love to find out what we could do to help. Any information you can provide us would be greatly appreciated!

    Miles

  10. Arjun Prasad Mainali, on March 16th, 2011 at 1:52 pm Said:

    As I am 96 times blood donor, I cann’t see people who are suffering. I had sent my one week salary of US $ 341.00 to Japan yesterday.

  11. Beatriz Macia, on March 16th, 2011 at 1:53 pm Said:

    I used to be a Red Cross volunteer in my city, have not done it for awhile. I was a shelter manager, trainer, eoc worker, etc. I also worked for Florida Div of Emergency Management and set up disaster recovery centers for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. My daughter and her family live in Japan. With all of the Japanese who have lost homes, will they be setting up shelters? Is it possible they will need shelter managers in the future? What Red Cross courses would I need to take to come up to speed and also work internationally.

  12. birt fraser, on March 16th, 2011 at 1:55 pm Said:

    I would like to help one family directly. I don’t want to go thru an agency that takes a percentage for administrative costs, advertising,etc…..I want to help one family in need. If I could find out how to find that one family and be reasonably sure that they would receive the assistance, I’d helpl.

  13. Lalit, on March 16th, 2011 at 2:20 pm Said:

    Japan Red cross website – http://www.jrc.or.jp/english/index.html

    Operation Blessing website: http://community.ob.org/site/PageServer

    How to help: http://money.cnn.com/2011/03/11/pf/japan_earthquake_relief/index.htm

  14. Roberta, on March 16th, 2011 at 2:24 pm Said:

    When 20,00+ people were evacuated from our town, and 400 homes were burned from a forest fire, the Red Cross was the first organization we saw when allowed back home. We are grateful for their presence in the US and internationally. Our donations go to the American Red Cross, knowing that they will distribute 91% to relief efforts wherever they are most needed. I think that is one of the best percentages of any charity organization. Thank you Red Cross.

  15. David, on March 16th, 2011 at 3:01 pm Said:

    I strongly encourage everyone in the United States to make a donation of at least $10 to aide the people of Japan. Even if you never played a video game, never read a manga, or seen an anime, chances are you have interacted in some way with something or someone from Japan. These people definitely need our help, and I consider it criminal if you refuse.

  16. Faye Burkett, on March 16th, 2011 at 3:04 pm Said:

    My request for a response from the Red Cross to my question that ALL of my donation go to Japan and not held for other disasters by Red Cross has not been answered and has been removed from theis site as has also the other woman who raised the same question. It is not right for the Red Cross to take my hard earned $ without providing an answer to my question or directing my $ as I desire. It is not right for the Red Cross to “cap” any part of my $ designated for Japan for other disasters. Folks the Japan link to the Red Cross may be a more sure way of your $ being spent as you desire since they are on the ground there and see 1st hand the great need. To J. Cole’s lengthy rant on even donating to Japan because in HIS judgement there are other worthier causes just shows his own blindness. While quoting God, he fails to remember that Jesus told us to remove the plank from our own eyes to see clearly how to remove the splinter in our brother’s eye. He has no idea what other causes we donate besides Japan. His words are lacking in mercy towards the country of Japan – and God requires we have mercy towards everyone. Brother, do not be jealous of the mercy the world has for Japan and remember, if you do not forgive the sins of others (you site the Japanese war), God will not forgive you your sins. We all have and continue to sin and fall short of the glory of God. We cannot judge anyone, even ourselves as that is reserved for Jesus. Whatever happened at that time in history, the current people of Japan were not part of it and you jeopardize your own soul in your continued resentment and anger over WWII. May God help you to see the truth and be freed of your anger and unforgiveness. + + +

  17. Suzanne Banning, on March 16th, 2011 at 3:16 pm Said:

    I would love to host a Japanese family in my home in Colorado if it is possible. I could also help financially with transportation if needed.

  18. Kathy Milligan, on March 16th, 2011 at 4:31 pm Said:

    If I make a donation for Japan can I specify that it goes only to relief in Japan and also what % of my donation goes to them?
    Thank You
    Kathy

  19. Valerie, on March 16th, 2011 at 4:59 pm Said:

    Here is the link to the Japanese Red Cross web page that contains information on how to transfer money directly to the Japanese Red Cross. You will need to go to your bank to make the transfer.

    http://www.jrc.or.jp/english/relief/l4/Vcms4_00002070.html

  20. Aki, on March 16th, 2011 at 6:10 pm Said:

    I know the group which collecting blankets (should be new one) and others in Japan. I’ll contact with them, and put info. in English. ( This site is in Japanese.) Please send an e-mail to me; aaki75@yahoo.com, and I’ll give you the info. I don’t want to open all junk mails, so please “blankets” in subject. Thank you for helping my country.

  21. Lindsay, on March 16th, 2011 at 6:26 pm Said:

    I am a US Military spouse. I am trying to find out if there is a program that the Military may use for it’s spouses who wish to volunteer to help in Japan?

  22. Juliana, on March 16th, 2011 at 6:38 pm Said:

    I have donated to the Red Cross already and want to donate more. Before I do so, I want to know whether Japan Red Cross has an active presence in Northern Japan where the evacuees from the tsunami are suffering from the cold and lack of food and water. Are they handing out blankets and food and water and other necessities with the money we are sending for Japan? I know every penny I give to the Red Cross counts for something and helps someone in the world. But, right now, I just want my money to go to the relief efforts in the north where people are cold and hungry and thirsty.

  23. Juliana, on March 16th, 2011 at 6:56 pm Said:

    Also, please consider erasing J. CoLe’s comment from March 16th, 2011 at 2:22 am. This organization is dedicated to helping people in need, regardless of personal opinions. Especially since it’s the individual’s choice to donate or not. We don’t need spam telling us about Pearl Harbor on this website. If so, I would be here talking about Nagazaki and Hiroshima.

  24. How We Are Helping After the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami « Munsingloh's Blog, on March 16th, 2011 at 6:56 pm Said:

    […] How We Are Helping After the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami. […]

  25. leighanncusaac, on March 16th, 2011 at 7:02 pm Said:

    Pearl Harbor & subsequent war happened over 65 yrs. ago. I am not going to punish the current generation for that. Lost my paternal Grandfather. I do wish folks would not turn this site into a sounding board!(sorry I am doing it) I just wish our joke of a president would get on the ball and allow those of us who want to open our hearts & homes up to these who no longer have homes, streets, basic neccessities of life. It can be done. Folks start calling your congressmen/women today to see what can be arranged.

  26. Rob, on March 16th, 2011 at 7:07 pm Said:

    I persuaded some of my frds from my college to help donate here. :)

  27. Yama, on March 16th, 2011 at 8:13 pm Said:

    I have been watching news about disaster in Japan. The winter weather has come back this weeek and I understand that it is snowing. They need supplies. The roads are not open. The gas stations do not have gas for the drivers who are heading for the area with goods very much needed. There is no water. Bathroom are not working. There are not enough temporary ones. Some people are getting sick for various reasons. Most people are eldery. They cling each other under cardbaord during night. That what I see on TV.
    I got an E-mail from Consulate General of Japan saying Japan Red Cross society and American Red Cross had the agreement: Donors can direct the donation to Japan Red Cross Society when they donate under Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief. Where Do I indicate that?

  28. Wendy Harman, on March 16th, 2011 at 8:29 pm Said:

    Yama,
    You should see the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami designation when you click the red Donate Funds button at http://www.redcross.org or on the home page of this blog. Thank you for your support.

  29. Al, on March 16th, 2011 at 8:47 pm Said:

    We have a large home in Salem, Oregon. A Japanese family, and pet, is welcome to stay in our home for as long as needed. I can help pay for their flight from Japan.

  30. Wendy Harman, on March 16th, 2011 at 9:07 pm Said:

    Larry and Al,
    We know of no initiatives to bring Japanese citizens to the United States.

  31. Larry, on March 16th, 2011 at 8:53 pm Said:

    A Japanese couple of family is welcome in our home for as long as needed. Their family pet is also welcome. We are in Dallas, Oregon, a small, quiet, farming community 12 miles from Salem Oregon.

  32. John Rabold, on March 16th, 2011 at 9:31 pm Said:

    I have a suggestion for those United States residents who wish to donate funds to a foreign charity, one based outside the United States. If you want your donation to be tax-deductible, please confer with your tax adviser before you do anything. I am NOT a tax expert, but it is my understanding that such a donation would NOT be deductible for US Federal income tax purposes. This IRS page may be helpful: http://1.usa.gov/gg8IAP

  33. Dianne, on March 16th, 2011 at 11:10 pm Said:

    My husband and I are willing to provide housing for anay displaced families or individuals. We have the space to help in this manner should they be willing to leave Japan for the time being. Japanese translators are available also.

  34. Martha Carlos, on March 17th, 2011 at 1:57 pm Said:

    Thanks so much Dianne. It’s so heartwarming to know that people like you are out there. We don’t anticipate a need to host families from Japan in the U.S. but your offer is very kind.

  35. Dianne, on March 16th, 2011 at 11:11 pm Said:

    I should mention that we live in the midwest.

  36. Taeka, on March 17th, 2011 at 1:36 am Said:

    EVERYBODY GOOGLE NOW HAS SET UP AN ONLINE TOOL TO GIVE TO THE JAPANESE RED CROSS DIRECTLY. http://www.google.com/crisisresponse/japanquake2011.html

  37. Nuclear Hysteria « Older Eyes, on March 17th, 2011 at 3:29 pm Said:

    […] this is for Japan.  I’d urge you again to contribute to a reputable organization like the Red Cross to help with rescue and recovery.   But nothing infuriates me like the tendency of our media to […]

  38. lisa h, on March 21st, 2011 at 10:27 pm Said:

    i see the questions that i have, about how to get in touch with someone to say we are willing to house japanese, and i see the response saying that many are trying to stay in Japan because of the visas..

    but because of the area currently being without any water, homes, electricity, etc, is there a way for the family to get here, and THEN worry about getting a visa through the Japanese Embassies in the foreign countries, or maybe in the United Statesf? (you can tell i am completely ignorant how this works but i want to help)

    my husband and i have talked extensively about this, and we are willing to house a mother and child/children to assist her in getting back on her feet till her area is more livable… we understand that this may not be a 3 or 6 month process, but maybe a 3 situation… and we understand that maybe finding a place for her and her children to stay may be a near impossibility right now for what is going on.

    WE WANT TO HELP!

    with the conditions as they are, currently, would that be a bigger difficulty?

  39. lisa h, on March 21st, 2011 at 11:13 pm Said:

    i posted a comment that i cannot see…

    my husband and i are trying to find out who we contact to offer our home for assistance… please advise. i asked if maybe there was a way to worry about VISAs after they were already in the States, with food, shelter, clothing, water, job & education opportunities, etc…

    i want to know how to help. i am on this board to find out how.

    i live near Louisville Kentucky. and years ago many areas of the ohio river were completely wiped by river flooding. while it it in no way compares to the tsunami, and the thousands of homeless to our hundreds of homeless, i know that the red cross was there. and the red cross offered shots, food, shelter, and volunteers.

    yet, what we went thru is NOTHING compared to this. it was a scratch on our knee.

    please keep your opinions and your silliness about about whether these people deserved this or not, or whether we have a good president or not, to yourselves. it scares away the people that have the means and want to help–which is obviously some people’s plans…

  40. Lillian Wong, on March 23rd, 2011 at 2:49 pm Said:

    Yama wrote on March 16th, “Japan Red Cross society and American Red Cross had the agreement: Donors can direct the donation to Japan Red Cross Society when they donate under Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief. Where Do I indicate that?” However, it appears the donation can be made to “Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami.” There is no designation for Japan Red Cross Society. Please clarify. Thank you.

  41. Koji, on March 24th, 2011 at 9:45 am Said:

    Question on Wendy’s quote below as it contradicts with what’s on donation page of American Red Cross.
    Who exactly decides how much ‘expense’ is needed for Japan relief effort? All you have sent so far is $10mm out of more than $100mm raised. How is the rest going to be used, if at all for Japan? There’s serious lack of transparency here and those who were so kind enough to donate deserve to know how their money is being spent!

    Wendy Harman, on March 15th, 2011 at 9:58 pm Said:
    Richard – With the exception of our costs for operations along the US west coast and Hawaii related to the tsunami (supporting more than 2,500 in evacuation centers), and an average of 9 percent we typically charge for administrative costs, all the money raised by the American Red Cross will go to the Japan earthquake and tsunami response.

    Comment in Donation page:
    Your gift to the American Red Cross will support our disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific. On those rare occasions when donations exceed American Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters.

  42. B P Phillips, on March 29th, 2011 at 5:27 am Said:

    My wife said that some of her friends heard that you have enough funds for the Japan quake already I would like to know if that is true or not.

  43. Tommy Kitagawa, on July 11th, 2011 at 12:40 pm Said:

    The red cross has collected the most amount of money for any disaster ever, and yet it has used less than 10%. Everyone knows you mean well, but it is obvious to all in Japan that the lack of action is something that will certainly effect the red cross’ efforts in future endeavors. That the imperial family is connected to such an organization is further saddening for all thosenthat donated in good faith in Japan and abroad.

    http://www.jrc.or.jp/english/about/glance.html

  44. Gloria Huang, on July 11th, 2011 at 12:42 pm Said:

    Hi Tommy – thanks for your comment. We’ve actually released an update detailing the amount of money we’ve contributed so far ($245 million) and what the money is helping to do. You can read it here: http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.94aae335470e233f6cf911df43181aa0/?vgnextoid=f478aaf9bc911310VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD

    The money contributed so far is at about 90% of what we received from our generous donors. We will continue to contribute more while working in partnership with the Japanese Red Cross. Thanks,

    Gloria

  45. susan, on March 15th, 2012 at 2:00 pm Said:

    Trying to reflect back on my girl scout troops fundraiser from last year. Can you give me a ballpark figure for how many people might have benefited from my 1st graders donation of $620?

  46. Wendy Harman, on March 15th, 2012 at 2:09 pm Said:

    Hi Susan – thanks to you and your Girl Scout troop! Here’s a report about what we’ve accomplished in Japan. http://www.redcross.org/www-files/Documents/pdf/international/Japan/JapanEarthquakeTsunami_OneYear.pdf

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