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On December 13, members of the Yahata Nishi Ward Civic Disaster Prevention Association Federation in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture visited Civic Force’s warehouse in Saga. The visit was organized to deepen understanding of disasters and disaster preparedness. 

At the tour, Executive Director Kaori Neki, explained the importance of collaboration with various actors involved in disaster relief including governments, companies, and CSOs (civil society organizations), and the creation of systems to prepare for disasters. Civic Force gave examples of collaboration with companies such as SEMA, an emergency disaster response alliance whose secretariat is LINE Yahoo, and Amazon's Disaster Relief Hub.

In addition, Tetsuya Takayama, co-representative of the Network Council Connected by Food which operates the warehouse, spoke about Saga Prefecture's system for supporting CSOs. He provided examples of networks between CSOs within the prefecture, and disaster relief and food. He explained the benefits of cooperation between support organizations during non-emergency times.

The participants asked questions about the contents of the stockpiles, staff costs, and warehouse operating costs. Mr. Onoe, the federation's secretariat said, “Kitakyushu City has not experienced a major disaster since the flood in 1950, and I mostly hear about evacuation centers supported by local municipalities. This visit helped me learn more about the roles CSOs play in disaster assistance. I also understood the importance of collaboration and initiatives during non-emergency times.