Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) Chief Deputy David R. Richardson Jr. attended the seventh annual “Love to Nippon 2018” memorial on Sunday, March 11, with Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Task Force 103. Every year the Love to Nippon Project hosts the memorial in remembrance of the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami that took place on March 11, 2011.
The United States Agency for International Development deployed the Department’s international USAR team to aid Japan in its recovery in 2011, creating lasting relationships with Japanese first responders and government officials.
Chief Richardson and USAR TF103 participated in the event to honor survivors and victims of the disaster in Japan, as well as educate the public regarding natural disaster preparedness.
Sharing lessons learned from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the Love to Nippon project 3.11 memorial strive to make March 11, an official training day to prepare for natural disasters in California.