First day: May 21st Supply Delivery ②

When we went through Ishinomaki-city, we did not see much of damages by Tsunami and Earthquake.  I heard that Miyagi would be OK if Tsunami did not hit that hard.

As we drove far from the city and close to Ogatsu area, the outside view changed drastically.  There are many small towns formed in front of ocean in this area, but as we reached these towns only we saw on the ground was foundations of houses, buildings, rubble, wreckage of houses, badly damaged cars.

We lost words as we pass these towns.

The huge sightseeing tour bus is still on top of the 2nd story building.  We saw the house roof in the ocean.  Unusual quietness...  We have seen these pictures so many times on TV and news, but it was totally different experience as we stood there and saw 360 degrees of surroundings, smell, and sounds (no sounds).

 

We talked with an area manager from a welfare & volunteer service office, we decided to visit to a small town called Ara.

This Ara area has about 27 houses and only 4 houses were destroyed by Tsunami.  The residents told us that most of houses were not affected this time because they move the housing area on the hill side since the big earthquake in 1933.  However, their fishing warehouses and netting and gears in the ocean are all destroyed.

About 80 people live in this community, and they are helping each other for their daily life.  Most of residents are elders, 60s to 80s, and lost jobs because of Tsunami damages.  They prepare all meals in their community center and deliver to each houses. They told us that the Self-Defence 

Force was the only hope to get water, foods and daily supplies.  They could go out shopping, but due to the bad road condition, it would take them about 90 min to get to the closest town.   They did not want to use up their limited supply of gasoline, so they felt trapped there.

When we told them we had brought some vegetables, cookies and snacks, their faces lit up since these items were not included at all in the supplies from Self-Defence Force.  It had been already two months after the earthquake.  I don't think I can live without cookies for two months !!

 

Ladies were also excited about the clothing we brought.  As boxes were brought in the room, they looked very happy as if they were window-shopping.  Seeing the colorful underwear from the US (brands like Fruit of the Loom and Hanes),  they started smiling and saying "oh, sexy looking..."

We left there as we promised them we would come back once more before we leave.  Their requested items - bananas, milk, tofu, sausages, ham.

I really hope at least they get water access soon.