Macfadden Supports USAID Response in Japan

Wednesday, 23 March 2011

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U.S. USAR teams search for survivors after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. (Photo credit: Los Angeles USAR Team)On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake occurred off the east coast of Honshu Island, Japan, generating a powerful tsunami that struck Japan's eastern coast. The tsunami intensified the impact of the disaster and resulted in additional fatalities and widespread damage, including a serious nuclear incident at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant north of Tokyo.

Supporting the U.S. Agency for International Development USAID) Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance's (OFDA) response to the disaster, Macfadden staff members are currently serving on the USAID response teams.  USAID deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to Japan to coordinate the U.S. Government response and support Japanese urban search and rescue (USAR) specialists and nuclear experts. Map of humanitarian assistance in Japan created by USAID GIU (staffed by Macfadden)

Macfadden deployed an Information Officer to serve as part of the USAID DART team.  In this role, Macfadden provides information from the field as events in Japan unfold.   

USAID also activated a Response Management Team (RMT) based in Washington, DC to provide ongoing disaster response support.  Five Macfadden Information Officers have served on the RMT, and are tasked with coordinating information as it flows from the field and preparing reports, both for U.S. Government policy makers and for the general public.  Macfadden also provided the team with a press officer who is handling media inquiries and press issues on behalf of the RMT. Macfadden's RMT Press Officer recently traveled to Japan with OFDA Director, Mark Bartolini, for a brief field visit.  In addition, Macfadden has a Communications and Records Coordinator serving on the RMT.

Throughout the ongoing response effort, Macfadden's Geographic Information Unit (GIU) is working on a daily basis to provide USAID with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping support services that enable the response teams to use geospatial information for planning and decision-making.  Macfadden staff members are also involved in making travel arrangements for staff as they deploy to the region.

On behalf of USAID, Macfadden manages daily operations of the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI), whose mission is to guide and inform individuals, groups and businesses that want to provide meaningful support to relief operations overseas how to do so in the most efficient and appropriate ways.  Macfadden's team at CIDI is responding to an increasing number of public inquiries about relief efforts in Japan.  Macfadden staff at CIDI continues to engage in public awareness activities that remind potential donors that cash is the most effective way to support organizations that provide direct support to people affected by disasters overseas.  

 Download Map of Humanitarian Assistance to Japan