Mayor Masaharu Noguni, right, and Col. Katherine J.

Mayor Masaharu Noguni, right, and Col. Katherine J. Estes sign an agreement at the Ocean Breeze here March 11 detailing the standard operating procedures for the Local Implementing Agreement. The LIA allows Camp Foster to open its gates to provide evacuees immediate and direct passage to higher ground or shelter immediately before, during or after a natural disaster. All in attendance observed a moment of silence to remember the victims and reflect upon the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent tsunami, which struck Japan on this date in 2011. The earthquake and tsunami are among the most destructive natural disasters in Japan’s history. The signing is a critical step to help safeguard the citizens of local communities and reaffirms the commitment of the U.S. to help its neighbors. Noguni is the mayor of Chatan, and Estes is the commanding officer of Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, and Camp Foster.