Gov't will help with evacuation plans

 September 1, 2013

Govt. to help craft local nuclear evacuation plans

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20130902_05.html

The Japanese government will form consultative groups of ministry and agency officials to help municipalities draw up evacuation plans for nuclear accidents.

Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in March, 2011, 156 municipalities within 30 kilometers of a nuclear plant around the nation have been overhauling their evacuation plans in the event of nuclear accidents.

But the reviewing process has stalled due to difficulties in making arrangements between local governments.

The main issues include evacuations beyond prefectural borders and the transport of elderly patients from hospitals and nursing care facilities.

The central government has so far left the work of crafting evacuation plans to municipalities, claiming the task is their duty.

But the government reversed its position and decided to set up consultative councils to give the state a leadership role in solving problems facing municipalities.

Officials from relevant ministries and agencies will be a part in the new groups to be established in each region hosting a nuclear plant.

Among the tasks of the consultative bodies is finalizing which local governments will accept evacuees from other prefectures.

They will also help secure means of transport for elderly people and inpatients, as well as gain cooperation from people on giving assistance to the vulnerable.

The government plans to officially decide to launch the new bodies as early as Tuesday in a meeting on nuclear disaster preparedness.

The Fukushima crisis triggered chaos in the evacuation process. Some pre-determined evacuation sites were unavailable as the nuclear accident required the evacuation of residents from areas wider than the government had predicted. Many elderly bed-ridden hospital patients died after lengthy evacuations by bus.

The government regards mapping out evacuation plans as equally crucial as safeguarding nuclear plants based on new guidelines for the safety of nuclear stations.

Attention is focused on how the new bodies will overcome a host of challenges in evacuating people to allay local concerns.