Tsunami threat leads to precautions for LDS missionaries, members in Asia
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As a tsunami bore down on Asia Sunday, Priesthood leaders took action to protect missionaries and members.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center removed warnings for all areas except Japan and Russia by Sunday morning Asia time.
Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Seventy, and president of the Asia North Area, said the Micronesia Guam Mission was the first to be affected by the tsunami warning. In an e-mail to the Church News, he said the mission reported that unit leaders, assisted by missionaries, saw to it that members and missionaries were moved to higher elevation areas on the Micronesia Islands of Kosrae, Chuuk, Yap and Pohnpei until the tsunami warning expired.
Elder Stevenson said members and missionaries were also warned in Guam and Saipan. He reported that there are no Church-owned buildings or missionary apartments in Guam that are located in “high warning” areas.
The highest level warning, he said, was in the northern area of Japan.
The mission presidents there reported that they warned all missionaries of the threat on coastal areas of the Sendai and Sapporo missions, he added. Some Sunday meetings were canceled in coastal areas in those missions.
Elder Stevenson said local stake leaders communicated to members in their stakes there concerning the situation.
He said, “The general communication infrastructure in Japan is very sophisticated with respect to these matters, and most citizens as well as our members are very much 'in the loop' as to the warnings coming from the government.”
