On March 16, 2019, the 13th Fukuoka Prefecture Regional Disaster Prevention Symposium was held in Fukuoka City.

This symposium was organized for the purpose of raising the awareness of disaster prevention among the citizens in the prefecture and to promote voluntary disaster prevention activities in the area by making reference to the Fukuoka Prefecture western offshore earthquakes that occurred on March 20, 2005.

At this year's symposium, GREEN CO-OP Fukuoka and FCO･OP Consumer Co-operative won the disaster prevention award. The reason for the award is the continuous and extensive support for the victims of July 2017 Heavy Rain in Northern Kyushu and July 2018 Heavy Rain. Support services include the provision of dinner to temporary housing residents, exchange meetings and seasonal events, temporary custody of children, watching over elderly people and providing assistance in cleanup of landslide sediments from residences and farmlands.

In receiving the award, Mr. TSUTSUMI Shingo, Managing Director, FCO･OP Consumer Co-operative commented that there is still more work to be done in the affected area and calls for co-ops continuing support for victims.

Disaster prevention award winners

The right end is Ms. MIHARA Yukiko, President, GREEN CO-OP Fukuoka, and the second from the right is Mr. TSUTSUMI Shingo, Managing Director, FCO･OP Consumer Co-operative

Following the award ceremony, Mr. YAMAMURA Takehiko, Director, Institute for Sustainable Disaster Prevention Co. Ltd. gave a lecture with the theme "Preparing for a Large-scale Disaster-Preparation and Action to Protect Life-" followed by a panel discussion with experts in Fukuoka Prefecture on "The approach of mutual assistance to reduce damage by natural disaster".

In addition, FCO･OP Consumer Co-operative exhibited a booth displaying photos of the support activities at the disaster area and CO·OP Brand Products that can be used for disaster meals.