Southlake4Japan & SWAT

In response to the devastating earthquake and ensuing tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, 2011, S.W.A.T. has partnered with a wide group of Southlake citizens and groups to help organize a relief initiative for Southlake’s Sister City, Tome, Japan.

Tome City, located in northeast Japan, is approximately 70 miles from the earthquake’s epicenter. Tome (previously Toyoma) and Southlake entered into a Friendship City relationship in 1991. This was modified to a Sister City agreement in 2004 when Toyama merged with other towns to become Tome City.  Read more about Tome, Japan on its city site.

Because of Tome’s elevation, it was spared from the tsunami but suffered unprecedented loss of power, infrastructure, and damage as a result of the earthquake.  Hundreds of homes and businesses were damaged and many destroyed. Learn more.

Some key Southlake sponsors for the Tome City relief initiative are:

Mayor Terrell:   representing City of Southlake and leading person of this community effort.

Southlake Sister Cities:  a key participant, assuming the role of communicating with Tome and providing a venue & conduit for holding donations & disbursing funds to Tome.

S.W.A.T.: another key participant, taking a leading role in publicity and community outreach.

Southlake4Japan:  a website sponsored by S.W.A.T., acting as a hub that collects and distributes information from different participants for events they sponsored.

S.W.A.T. (Southlake Working As A Team) is a grassroots movement of Southlake churches, businesses, organizations and individuals who work as a team to make Southlake a better place.  It’s our desire to build awareness, relationships, and support for Southlake’s Sister City during this crisis.

For more information about the Tome relief initiative, visit Southlake4Japan.com