This Friday: Earthquakes and Flooding Relief Coordination Call and Webinar
The earthquakes in Ecuador and Japan and the flooding in Houston have had devastating effects. In each situation, there have been large casualties and damage to homes and businesses.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center (CCC) will host a coordination webinar on Friday, April 22 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss relief efforts after the earthquakes in Japan and Ecuador and the flooding in Houston. The webinar will be structured as follows:
We will begin with an overview of the earthquake response efforts in Ecuador, followed by a briefing on the response efforts in Japan. We will end the webinar with an overview of the flood response efforts in Houston.
CCC’s webinar will provide updated information on the humanitarian response to these three disasters. It will focus on coordination efforts on the ground, how companies can help, and how the response and recovery process will be structured in the days and weeks ahead.
Confirmed organizations speaking include:
- American Red Cross
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Greater Houston Partnership
- International Medical Corps
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Participants: The webinar is for officials from donor companies, corporate foundations, local chambers of commerce, humanitarian aid organizations, and members of the media.
Register here for dial-in instructions.
Background
SOUTHERN JAPAN EARTHQUAKE
On Saturday, April 16, 2016, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s Kumamoto prefecture displacing more than 90,000 people to 632 temporary shelters across the region. At least 48 people lost their lives as hundreds of aftershocks have hampered relief efforts and caused people throughout the region to sleep outside or in their cars for fears of additional earthquakes. The quake was reportedly shallow, which caused severe damage to roads, bridges, and tunnels and thousands of homes are still without electricity, water, or gas. Southern Japan Earthquake Corporate Aid Tracker.
ECUADOR EARTHQUAKE
Also on Saturday, April 16, 2016, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake left at least 480 people dead, 1,700 missing, and more than 4,000 injured in northern Ecuador, particularly the Manabi Province. Defense Minister Ricardo Patiño said it is the worst tragedy Ecuador has faced in 60 years, and President Rafael Correa has said that rebuilding will cost billions of dollars and may inflict a huge toll on the economy. The cities of Manta, Portoviejo, and Pedernales saw the most devastation. Ecuador Earthquake Corporate Aid Tracker.
FLOODING IN HOUSTON, TX
On Monday, April 18, 2016, floodwaters inundated more than 1,000 houses in Houston, Texas after 17 inches of rain fell in less than 24 hours. Officials expect the Houston area will receive another 1 to 3 inches of rain over the next few days. Seven people died as a result of the flooding and Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of emergency in nine counties. Emergency crews have made more than 1,200 high-water rescues throughout the region.
