Report from the Field: Maxwell AFB, ISB, Alabama Tornado Disaster, DR – 1971
Author: Eston Spain, Emergency Planning Associate, IEM
Figure 1 Before the media event, Kye took time to pose for a few candid pictures with me in front of some of the goods donated by the people of Japan.
After the recent tornado disaster in Alabama, IEM supported federal disaster logistics operations as a member of the disaster response teams stationed at Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, AL, ISB (Incident Support Base). The process during this mission involved tracking over 500, 53 foot semi-trailer loads of relief goods, such as water, MREs, ice, and tarps. As part of the mission, at a local trucking facility near Maxwell AFB emergency relief supplies to support the response efforts were cross-docked from private carriers to DHS/FEMA trailers. Two of the private carrier trailers loaded with emergency relief supplies from Japan were backed into the dock and being unloaded. A representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Mr. Keiichiro Nakazawa, Chief Representative for the Washington, DC based agency was on hand to oversee the transfer of donated goods from the people of Japan to the people of Alabama who had suffered from devastating tornadoes on April 27th. Kye, as he prefers to go by, said, “Japan was grateful for the outpouring of relief efforts and compassion shown by the United States,” referring to their recent earthquake and tsunami disasters and the subsequent radiation release. We discussed how the relief efforts demonstrated by both nations are seen as positive goodwill gestures, and how that in times such as these, despite our cultural and geographic differences, we are all we are all human beings who may need help from their neighbors and friends from time to time. Mr. Nakazwa arrived ahead of another member of the Japanese delegation, Mr. Takuji Hanatani, Consul General of Japan in Atlanta, GA, who was there to officially present the donations to the State of Alabama. (more…)
