Disaster prevention: Can do better

March 8, 2015

News Navigator: How have disaster prevention measures changed after 2011 triple disasters?

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/perspectives/news/20150308p2a00m0na002000c.html

The Mainichi Shimbun answers some common questions readers may have about the Basic Act on Disaster Control Measures, which went through revisions in 2012 and 2013 after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Questions: What are some important points in the revisions to the disaster control law?

Answer: The March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami affected an extensive area, crippling administrative functions at the municipal level. As a result, municipal governments failed to provide sufficient support to local residents. In the 2012 revisions, the national and prefectural governments were given authority to manage support and evacuation systems beyond the boundaries of municipalities.

The 2013 revisions called on municipal governments to form lists of residents who would need special assistance in times of evacuation, such as the elderly and those with disabilities. In the 2011 disasters, information about such residents was not passed down to private support groups, which hindered the evacuation process in some places. The law now allows local fire departments, social workers and private-sector organizations to acquire the lists of those who need special evacuation care without their consent. However, municipal governments still need people's consent if they choose to provide the lists to relevant organizations before disasters actually take place.

Q: What about measures against possible nuclear plant disasters?

A: The government reviewed its guidelines for nuclear disaster measures in the wake of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant meltdown. Municipalities close to nuclear power plants are now working on evacuation measures based on the assumption that nuclear disasters can happen.

One of the major revisions to the law required municipal governments within 30 kilometers of nuclear plants to map out nuclear disaster evacuation plans. The distance was extended from 8 to 10 kilometers in the pre-revised law. Because of this, nursing homes and hospitals that are located within 30 kilometers from nuclear plants are now required to draw up evacuation plans.

Q: It sounds like our disaster preparedness has improved, doesn't it?

A: Well, yes and no. According to the national government, as of 2013, around 25 percent of all municipal governments had yet to complete compiling lists of residents needing special evacuation assistance in case of a disaster. Some municipalities are still working on their lists. In addition, the effectiveness of the nuclear disaster prevention measures are being questioned as nursing homes and hospitals are having difficulties mapping out evacuation plans. (Answers by Tomoki Okuyama, City News Department)