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Japan eyes stockpiling disaster supplies at post offices
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Lindsay
Now there’s an opening for embezzlement. I can just see hundreds of tons of this stuff going missing. You’ll likely find it on Yahoo Auctions.
BigP
I think my local post office delivery person is already over worked. Registered delivery at 9PM Sunday evening! Not to mention the Honda Cub delivery bike in the rain.
obladi
We in Japan live in the Ring of Fire. A disaster can happen any day. Better safe than sorry.
JeffLee
Seems like a good idea. They could also use fire stations, if they haven't already.
Nemo
The distribution network is there. The storage capacity is not.
For water alone, one adult needs 1 liter per day minimum. For a local population of 10,000, that would amount to 300,000 liters of water minimum per month and that does not include water for cooking and sanitation.
Where are they going to store that?
Then we get into food and beddding, medical supplies and shelter.
Nope, this is a job for the JSDF with it's storage and distribution logistics and the post office serviing as the last kilometer distributor.
wallace
Many post offices are simply too small and already deal with packages and postage.
Mark
Good Idea, the postal service is well equipped and has the means to deliver fast.
KamakuraShogun
Post offices in Japan come in many sizes. They arent talking about the small post offices.
It looks like they have the space.
Desert Tortoise
Good idea. Use fire stations, police stations and highway maintenance yards too. Water can be filtered. Most military's have specialized portable equipment on trailers that can purify, store and dispense potable water. Those, along with the necessary training, should be dispersed at highway maintenance yards as well.
Toshihiro
if you ask me, all neighborhood-level government offices should be considered as well, you could also include libraries, ward offices, police stations and even train stations. The more decentralized the distribution of resources are, the less likely more will be accessible in the event of a disaster.
virusrex
As previously said this may be a huge burden to some officies that are already severely understaffed and crowded, so I really hope a detailed and realistic analysis of the feasibility of this project is done so only those locations able to absorb the work wil be "compelled" to participate.
Still, as long as done responsibly this seems like a good idea, the logistics would be easier to adapt and people with experience and knowledge of the area would be in charge of distributing the help, which is always something desirable.
Stephen Chin
Using post offices to as storage places in preparation for a disaster?
What kind of a disaster? Will this not create confusion in the thousands of post offices in Japan. And interfere with the work of post officers which has to be efficient and, in time?
xin xin
Great idea, and that is not too difficult to work out! But not for the Ch or NK trolls.
diagonalslip
better to put it in the hands of Yamato and Sagawa...... if my local PO is any indication, inefficiency reigns, and each time they act like it's the first time they ever encountered such baffling challenges as..... um...... handling mail.
justasking
Actually, the Japanese Red Cross Headquarters in Onarimon has a huge area stockpiled with blankets, emergency food and other supplies that are rotated and restocked constantly. The rotated stock will be sent overseas when disaster hits such as now in Turkey and then there is an immediate replacement of whatever was sent out and so there is no expired food items, batteries and or other items. How do I know this? Years ago, I use to regularly volunteer at the Japanese Red Cross, and I have had a personal tour of the headquarters and was provided a history on their programs especially in the time of emergencies both locally and overseas.
vendingmachinemusic
my local post office is understaffed.
They do there best, but always seem slammed and over whelmed.
Maybe in the country side this may work, but not in a big city.
in a big city. best to always have two weeks of food on hand at all times.
Alan Bogglesworth
Good "eyeing" JP Post.
Alan Bogglesworth
Wouldn't it be better to just designate multiple safe areas to stockpile supplied and then have some type of national guard equipped with delivery by air be a bit more sensible?
I'd imagine keeping all the supplies, stocked, in working condition etc would be a full time job?
Ubesh
I think it is a good way to keep post offices alive - may do the same thing for rural railway stations?