By now you know about the devastating 8.9 magnitude earthquake that struck off of the coast of northern Japan on March 11. At least 1,300 people are thought to have died, but police have warned that the death toll in tsunami-hit Miyagi prefecture alone could exceed 10,000. Nationwide, more than 300,000 people have been evacuated.

Infrastructure is massively damaged. Costal roads are clogged with debris and rolling power cuts are affecting normal, every-day life, water and gas supplies, and some medical facilities.

We’ve been truly touched by the number of people who have gotten in touch with us about wanting to volunteer for rescue and recovery efforts in Japan. It is truly inspiring to know that there are people who would fly half way around the world to help people put their lives back together in the wake of the massive destruction that has occurred.

You can help HandsOn Network respond to the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. In these first few days since the earthquake, we have connected with our Hands On Tokyo affiliate in Japan and we are working with our international partners to determine support needed on the local level. We have set-up an account with MissionFish/Ebay and Paypal to collect donations to assist Hands On Tokyo with relief efforts. Over the next few days we’ll continue to update you on current activities and ways you can help.

Here’s what you can do now to help with relief efforts in Japan:

• Donate. Right now, monetary support is needed more than anything else. You can donate directly or place items up for bid on Ebay and a percentage of the selling price will go to Hands On Tokyo. You can also donate directly to Hands On Tokyo through PayPal.
• Teach. The massive amount of media coverage around this disaster has brought it into everyone’s lives. Resources at generationOn can help children and young adults better understand what their role in disaster relief, even when the disaster is half way around the world, through lessons about philanthropy.
• Follow. HandsOn Network’s disaster response Twitter account that will be updated with information about how you can assist recovery efforts as it becomes available.
• Volunteer. Crisis Commons is seeking volunteers to help gather data and identify needs of local agencies and humanitarian aid organizations that can be addressed through collaborative software development.

You can connect with other US agencies that are providing relief at Network for Good.

We know a lot of people are eager to help, but as with any disaster, we ask that you do not self deploy but become affiliated with an organization who is responding and wait until an opportunity has been identified.