Exactly one year after the devastating earthquake in Northridge, California, Kobe, Japan, experienced a mind-boggling 7.2 earthquake of its own. The disaster hit in the early morning hours just as in California. At 5:46 A.M. on January 17, 1995, the 1.4 million residents of Kobe were thrown from their beds into a real-life nightmare. More than 5,000 would perish, 25,000 would be injured, and over 300,000 would be left homeless in this awful tragedy (Laabs 11). Many were left stranded for days on the man-made Rokko Island which is linked to Kobe by a bridge that was immediately closed following the earthquake and not reopened until the week's end.
      Not only did the community of survivors in Kobe join forces to help those in need but the world community reacted by working together to aid those in Kobe.

• "Procter and Gamble chartered a boat to the island [Rokko Island] late in the week and evacuated 300 employees and their families, along with untold numbers of other citizens" (Silverman and Freeman 1). The boat also brought supplies such as food and water to the island.

• Northwest Airlines and non-profit AmeriCares joined forces to bring millions of dollars in supplies to devastated Kobe. They coordinated two plane loads of supplies in five days. Goods were stacked to the ceiling, including everything from soup (Campbell's Soup Co.) to nuts (Sun-Diamond Growers of California). More than 400,000 pounds of goods were donated.

• Other companies that donated goods include the following: Land’s End and Maidenform - clothing; Duracell International - batteries; Cheeseborough Ponds USA - toiletries; Johnson & Johnson - bandages; American Medical Devices - medical supplies; and Sprung Instant Structures even sent prefabricated buildings.

• Toyota Motor Co., Chevron, and AT&T were just part of the relief effort that went through various organizations such as the American Red Cross, which amassed $1 million in the days after the quake.