A week after the devastating earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan, a representative from Lawrence’s sister city of Hiratsuka, Japan, sent updates about how the city is doing following the disaster.

Though Hiratsuka sustained minor damage compared with other areas of the country, access to food and electricity remains problematic, said Yoshimi Tomita, president of Friends of Lawrence in Hiratsuka.

Tomita wrote about planned power outages and shortages of basic goods in an email to the Journal-World on Saturday. But conditions should return to normal shortly, Tomita said, and Hiratsuka has been able to send emergency workers and supplies to more affected areas.

Lawrence Mayor Mike Amyx asked Lawrence residents to offer assistance to Japan.

“As the world reaches out to the Japanese people, I urge the citizens of Lawrence to find ways to help the global community and assist Japan. … ” Amyx said in a news release issued by the city Friday.

Hiratsuka, a city of more than a quarter million people located about 40 miles southwest of Tokyo, has been a sister city of Lawrence since 1990.

James Hilliard, president of the Friends of Hiratsuka here in Lawrence, said he’s been in frequent contact with people in Hiratsuka and they’re monitoring the situation closely. Hilliard said he’s been told that Hiratsuka is not affected by radiation issues from the nuclear reactor problems in the northeastern part of the country. A delegation trip to Japan is scheduled for June, he said.

Tomita, who has made two trips to Lawrence, said he knows the Lawrence community is concerned about Hiratsuka and Japan.

“I think that a lot of people in Lawrence have been watching TV and they can’t believe the tremendous devastation,” he said. “I deeply appreciate that our Lawrence friends are praying for Japan.”