JAOT Disaster Relief Activities
【Road to Reconstruction】
This report contains the JAOT’s support activities during and after the Great East Japan Earthquake, the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake, and 2016 Typhoon No.10. Its purpose is to inform the general public of the role of occupational therapy in disaster relief.
【The 5th Report】(Posted on April 19, 2016)
To help the people affected by the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, we accepted donations to the supporting fund. We sincerely thank everyone for their warm support. The supporting funds were used for supporting prefectural associations of occupational therapists in the affected prefectures or for disaster relief volunteer activities conducted by the Association in connection with the above, and to secure financial resources for the purchase of material goods assistance.
【The 4th Report】(Posted on April 19, 2016)
Based on the provisions in Article 2 No. 2 of “Regulations on the Support of Occupational Therapy Associations in Prefectures Affected by Disasters,” we accepted requests for exemption from membership fees in the fiscal year 2016 due to the Kumamoto earthquake.
Target: As a general rule, fee exemption may be claimed by a member himself/herself if his/her place of residence at the time of the earthquake was afflicted, whether completely or partially destroyed. However, it does not cover a “family home” where he/she is not residing.
【The 3rd Report】(Posted on April 18, 2016)
The support activities for the victims of the Kumamoto earthquake provided by rehabilitation professionals were supervised by the JRAT (Japan Rehabilitation Assistance Team). JAOT, which is affiliated to JRAT, also promoted disaster relief activities in cooperation with the JRAT.
【The 2nd Report】(Posted on April 18, 2016)
JAOT reported on the initial response of the association at the first regular board meeting of the fiscal year 2016 held on April 16 (Saturday). They later held the first meeting of the Disaster Prevention Office after the board meeting. Based on the “Basic Guidelines for Support Activities in Large-Scale Disasters” and “Regulations on the Support of Occupational Therapy Associations in Prefectures Affected by Disasters” established by the JAOT, they decided to carry out the initial responses given below:
1. Contribute three hundred thousand yen to the Kumamoto Association of Occupational Therapists as the initial response support fund
2. Accept the request for exemption from membership fees in the current fiscal year for members in the affected areas
3. Start fund-raising activities to collect the support fund for disaster relief activities
4. Assess the future situation of the affected areas and support activities and prepare for the dispatch of volunteer occupational
therapists for disaster relief activities as necessary while closely collaborating with the JRAT
5. For the time being, dispatch the JAOT clerks to the disaster response headquarters established by the JRAT
【The 1st Report】(Posted on April 18, 2016)
President Haruki Nakamura of the JAOT spoke to Chairman Seigo Uchida of the Kumamoto Association of Occupational Therapists (KAOT), at 9:30 pm on April 14 (Thursday) immediately after the earthquake occurred and conveyed his sympathy. He also offered to share information and necessary support at any time in the future.
On April 15 (Friday) at 7:30 am, JAOT President Nakamura received information from Dr. Masaki Kurihara, the representative of the Japan Rehabilitation Assistance Team (JRAT), to the effect that the JRAT headquarters were launched, and conveyed this to KAOT Chairman Uchida over the phone.
At 9:33 am on the same day, KAOT Chairman Uchida contacted JAOT President Nakamura to the effect that the KAOT had launched the Disaster Prevention Office at 6 am, and that they were currently confirming the safety of their members.
At 10:00 am on the same day, according to a decision taken by JAOT President Nakamura, the JAOT set up a disaster response headquarters. A sympathy statement was sent by e-mail to the OT Associations of seven prefectures in Kyushu with President Nakamura and Disaster Prevention Office Chief Akemi Kayama as joint signatories.
At 2:00 pm on the same day, JAOT dispatched office clerks to the disaster response headquarters set up by the JRAT.