ReliefWeb

Leesburg, Florida Company, PowerTech, Manufacturing Generators; Will Ship From Orlando To Japan On Friday, April 8

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (April 6, 2011) The international humanitarian organization Operation Blessing International (OBI) has purchased 20 industrial-grade electrical generators from Leesburg, Florida-based PowerTech Generators that will ship from Orlando to Japan this Friday, April 8, 2011.

The generators will be deployed around the Urato Islands, a fishing community consisting of four islands. The earthquake and tsunami destroyed the oyster cultivation equipment and seaweed farms the residents depend on for their livelihood. Plus, the underwater electrical cable supplying the four islands was badly damaged and is not expected to be repaired for six months.

On a trip to the Urato Islands last week, Operation Blessing International president Bill Horan learned about the need for electricity and acted quickly to provide the generators. Using funds given by the charity's donors specifically for Japanese disaster relief, OBI purchased the twenty, 6.6-kilowatt diesel generators from Leesburg-based PowerTech.

'We looked all over Japan for diesel generators, but they were sold out everywhere. It became clear that the fastest way to acquire them would be to have them built in the USA. PowerTech, a leader in the manufacturing of industrial generators, was ready and able to build the units at lightning speed and at the custom voltage needed for use in Japan. Our longtime partner DHL also agreed to transport the units at cost.'

The 20 generators will be flown from the Orlando airport to Tokyo this Friday and delivered to the islands on April 12th. The units will be deployed around the four islands and will supply enough electricity to provide strategic needs including ice making, refrigeration, lights and communication equipment, since communication with the islands is currently not possible with the electricity out of service.

Said Horan, 'Besides the physical benefits these generators will provide, they will also provide hope in the hearts of those stricken by the disaster. Donors from all over America are bringing light to a dark place through Operation Blessing. We are living our faith in a most significant way.

Operation Blessing International was a first responder to the disaster, with David Darg, the charity's director of international disaster relief, arriving roughly 72 hours after the March 11th earthquake and tsunami. To date, OBI has delivered emergency relief supplies including thousands of pounds of rice, bread, fruit, warm clothing, cooking stoves, candles and canned food, bottled water, hygiene supplies, and kerosene that have helped thousands of survivors in cities including Rikuzen Takata, Shiogama, and Ishinomaki. The charity also hosted three eye care clinics in Shiogama that provided over 450 survivors with free eyeglasses.

To donate to this effort or learn more about Operation Blessing International's relief efforts in Japan or humanitarian work in 23 other countries, please log on to www.ob.org or www.myowneyes.org

ABOUT OPERATION BLESSING INTERNATIONAL:

Operation Blessing International (OBI) is one of the largest charities in America, providing strategic disaster relief, medical aid, hunger relief, clean water and community development in 23 countries around the world on a daily basis. OBI was awarded Charity Navigator's coveted 4 star rating for sound fiscal management for the fifth year in a row (2009), a feat that only 4% of rated charities have ever achieved. In November 2010, Forbes named OBI as the 6th most efficient charity in America. Additionally, the Chronicle of Philanthropy currently ranks OBI as the 23rd largest charity and the 6th largest international charity. Founded in 1978, Operation Blessing International has touched the lives of more than 235 million people in more than 105 countries and 50 states, providing goods and services valued at over $2.7 billion to date.

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FOR INTERVIEWS PLEASE CONTACT: Chris Roslan DRC Inc. Public Relations (212) 966-4600 chris@drcpublicrelations.com