The Exchange’s Japan Distribution Center provided life-saving drinking water to thousands of Kumamoto Prefecture residents after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake damaged water infrastructure across the region late last month.
The U.S. government purchased the water from the Exchange and then donated it to 80,000 people who were without water because of damage from the earthquake. The water pallets were turned over to the Japanese military and distributed to the residents in the affected areas of Kumamoto.
The July 28 earthquake killed at least 38 people and left more than 45,000 homes without water as damaged infrastructure and aftershocks complicated recovery. Large-scale damage also occurred as aftershocks rocked the region.
On Aug. 8, Yokota Air Base command contacted Distribution Center Manager Russell Bundy Jr. to request emergency water supplies.
“They asked if we had water for the victims since it’s really bad there,” Bundy said. “I told him we had over 100 pallets’ worth stocked at the warehouse and that we would be right on it.”
In less than 24 hours, Bundy and his team coordinated with military personnel and several agencies to get 20 pallets loaded and shipped out by military flight Aug. 9.
An additional 20 pallets were flown to the affected areas Aug 10.
The Yokota DC serves all of mainland Japan and stores enough water for emergency situations.
“If something happens all the way from Misawa to Iwakuni, we have water for stored and ready,” Bundy said. “Doesn’t matter if it’s Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines or civilians, if people need it, we have it.
“Part of our jobs is being good ambassadors,” Bundy added. “We partner with Japan and we’re very good friends with them. When they need our help, it’s our duty to assist. It’s part of our mission.”
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