As a country, Japan is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters because of its climate and topography. Because of that, the nation is especially focused on being ready for anything, from earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons and other severe weather events.
“Ready for anything” takes on a whole new meaning for our Prologis team in Japan. As a leading logistics company, we’ve been working with local cities to help prepare for potentials disasters.
In recent months, Prologis Japan has signed agreements with 11 cities to offer disaster relief support, both indoor and outdoor space and resources. Our team worked with local officials in those cities to identify and assign our logistics parks as evacuation and response sites.
In the event of a disaster, communities need indoor shelter, but also parking lots, driveways and courtyards that have communal infrastructure (think convenience stores, restaurants and bathrooms). During the pandemic in Japan, there was new demand for spaces that people could drive to, park and spend the night in their cars to mitigate risks of infection – a need with which Prologis is uniquely suited to help.
Planning Now to Help Later
In addition to space donations, some of our agreements ensure supplies such as food, bedding and emergency goods are stockpiled for those taking shelter at Prologis parks. In some cases, we collaborate with our customers for joint response in which we provide the space, and they provide supplies.
This planning comes from experience. During the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011, Prologis facilities were used as shelter by our customers. The earthquake prompted our Japan teams to proactively create these agreements with local authorities so our communities would be better prepared the next time disaster strikes.
