Misawa Air Base Exchange stores suffered minor damage from a 7.6-magnitude earthquake that struck the Pacific Ocean near Japan on Monday.
The earthquake, which occurred at 11:15 p.m. Japan time (about 8:15 a.m. Dallas time) off the coast of Aomori Prefecture, prompted immediate tsunami warnings. Aomori and Misawa are at the northern edge of Japan’s mainland. The New York Times reported that by Tuesday morning, the Japanese government had lifted the tsunami warnings.
All associates have been accounted for, according to Misawa General Manager Michickia Carter.
Japan Regional Vice President Charlyne Morganfield reported that at the main store, merchandise was knocked off shelves onto the sales floor. Several ceiling tiles were dislodged. The store delayed opening until 11 a.m. Tuesday to allow for cleanup and safety precautions.
Damage at an Express was limited to broken beverage bottles. The gas station was not affected and pumps were fully operational.
Some broken merchandise was seen in the concession mall. No damage was reported at the food court. As of Tuesday morning Dallas time, damage assessments were still pending at other properties.
The installation posted a list of earthquake and tsunami resources and preparedness tips on its Facebook page, but there were no reports of closures at the base.
Leave a Reply