Progress of Disaster Management Administration in Japan

November 2005

by Satoru NISHIKAWAby Satoru NISHIKAWA

Cabinet Office, Government of JapanCabinet Office, Government of Japan

Japan has wide variety of natural disasters

•Typhoons　 　(July – October)

•Heavy Monsoon Rain 　　 　　(May – July)

•Floods•Landslides•Earthquakes•Tsunamis•Volcanic Eruptions•Snow Avalanches

•Japan is prone to earthquakes

-10% of whole earthquake energy in the world is released around Japan

Most dreadful things historically in Japan

1 .earthquakes, 2. lightning/thunder, 3. fire, 4. father

Jishin Kaminari Kaji Oyaji

Historical Records of Earthquakes ＆ Tsunami in

JAPAN •416 August, Yamato-Kochi Earthquake

　The first written record of Earthquake in Japan within “Nihonshoki” the first official history book of Japan, edited in 8th century .

•684 November, by Hakuho-Nankai Tonankai Earthquake (Estimate Magnitude: 8.2-3)

The first written record of Earthquake Tsunami in Japan within “NIHONSHOKI” the first official history book of Japan, edited in 8th century.

Traditional “UKIYOE” drawing after 1855 October Ansei-Edo Earthquake 1

Edo (Old name of Tokyo) citizens beating the legendary Catfish Monster which was believed to cause earthquake

Hazards Confronting Vulnerable Communities Cause Disasters

Disasters

Hazard

(risk assessment)Vulnerability

(societal conditions)

Less Disasters

Hazard

(risk assessment)Vulnerability

(societal conditions)

Disasters

The Holistic Approach to cope with Disasters-The Japanese Experience --The Japanese Experience -

Ise-wan Typhoon

Hanshin-Awaji (Kobe) Earthquake

(persons)

(year)19591945 19951970 1980 19901950 2000

The number of casualties and the missing in natural disasters in Japan

6481

4897

58686062

JAPAN’s Government System

3 Layers of GovernmentNational Government

47 Prefectural Government

2,376 Cities, Towns, Villages Municipal Government

(as of May 2005)

Largest Prefecture: Tokyo 12.1 millionSmallest Prefecture: Tottori 0.6 million

(Population data based on national census in 2000)

(Prime Minister is elected by the National Diet)

(Governor is elected by the residents)

(Mayor is elected by the residents)

JAPAN

Niigata Prefecture

Metropolis of Tokyo

47 Prefectures

Hyogo Prefecture

KOBE City

HYOGO Prefecture

Hokudan Town,

Awaji Island

88 Municipalities

(22 Cities, 66 Towns)

as of April 2003

Niigata Prefecture

45 Municipalities

(20 Cities, 17 Towns,8 Villages)

as of May 2005

Ojiya City

Nagaoka City

The National Government

The Prime Minister is the Head of the Cabinet and is the Chairman of

the Central Disaster Management Council

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Minister of State for Disaster Management

Cabinet Office

The Local Government (Hyogo Prefecture)

All local government have their mayor (administrative office head) elected by

their citizens and the legislative body elected by citizens

The Local Government (N ｉigataPrefecture)

All local government have their mayor (administrative office head) elected by

their citizens and the legislative body elected by citizens

1959 Ise-Wan Typhoon was the Epoch-Making Turning Point

•Response oriented approach to preventive approach

•Individual approach to comprehensive multi-sectoral approach

•Investment for disaster reduction

Central Disaster Prevention Council chaired by the Prime Minister

The Cabinet must officially report the disaster countermeasures to the National Diet

Formulation of “National Basic Disaster Management Plan for Disaster Prevention”

Annual Gov’t Official Report on Disaster Countermeasures

National Coordinating Body with all relevant Ministers & Japanese Red Cross, Public Broadcasting, Semi-Public Sectors

The Disaster Management Operation Plan (Sectoral)The Local Disaster Management Plan

Public Awareness Programs

Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act 1961

Designation of “Disaster Prevention Day”

Great Success Great Success in decreasing Typhoon & Flood Casualtiesin decreasing Typhoon & Flood Casualties

-Continued-Emphasis on Strong Link of Information Flow among Various SectorsStronger Coordination among various gov’t sectors & Red

Cross

Involvement of Semi-Public Sectors Electric Companies, Railway Companies, Public Broadcasting etc.

Investment for Disaster PreventionFlood Control & Land Conservation Works

Forest Conservation

Meteorological Observation 　 Mt. Fuji Rader Site, Meteo-Sats

Emergency Telecommunication Systems

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

1945 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 00

風水害による死者・行方不明者数

Number of Death/Missing

by Weather-related Disasters in Japan

Ise-wan Typhoon

Efforts for Disaster Prevention

EmergencyResponse

EmergencyResponse

RecoveryRehabilitation

RecoveryRehabilitation

PreventionMitigation

PreventionMitigation

PreparednessPreparedness

Improvement of Disaster Prevention Facilities - Observation equipment such as meteorological satellites, weather observation radar and seismometers - Systems for communicating emergency information such as telecommunications and broadcasting facilities etc.

National Land Conservation - Soil conservation, River improvement, Construction of dams for flood control, Soil erosion control, Landslide prevention, Coastline conservation, Agricultural land and facilities disaster management etc.

Disaster Awareness & Knowledge, Disaster Management DrillLocal Voluntary Disaster Management Organizations and Volunteer Activities

Building nation and communitiesresilient to disasters

People

Civil Protection &

Relief

-Regional Planning

-Social Infrastructure Works

-Agriculture & Forestry

-Health & Sanitation

-Environment

Scientific & Engineering ResearchNational

Coordinating Bodies

Local Gov’ts, Communities, Mass Media, NGOs

Basic Emergency Services in Japan

.IFire-Fighting & Ambulance

.IIPolice

.IIIMilitary

.IVCoast Guard

Basic Emergency Services in Japan I. Fire-Fighting & AmbulanceDial 119 Municipal (City, Town, Village)

Fire Station

Voluntary Firefighters at Community Level

Weak Coordination at Prefecture Level

Overall Fire Defence Administration Policy by Fire Defence Agency, Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications at National Level

Basic Emergency Services in Japan II. Police

•Major Police Station in Cities•Strong Coordination by the National Police

Agency

Dial 110 Prefectural Police

Basic Emergency Services in Japan IV. Coast Guard

•Japan Coast Guard belongs to Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (only at

National Level)

1995 Kobe Earthquake (17 Jan. 1995, Mag.

7.2 ) was the 2nd Epoch-Making Turning Point

CasualtyDeath: 6,433

80 % were killed by building collapse (crush and suffocation)

Injured: 43,177

Damage to buildings

Housing:436,416 units - 100,302 completely destroyed - 108,741 half destroyed

Public buildings destroyed: 750 units

Other buildings destroyed: 3,952 units

Fire Fire outbreaks: 294 units

Kobe Earthquake

6,433 deaths

80% immediately killed by building collapse surgeon general’s report

Prevention & Mitigation Preparedness

Ensure Building Safety !

Public Awareness

Disaster Manager’s Proper Action

Direct loss : 5,520

Relevant loss : 913

Characteristics of Stricken Area

•Directly hit the Metropolitan area - Major Center for Government, Economic and Culture with 3.6million

•Capital of Prefecture - Local Governments (Prefecture, Cities) Headquarter were also heavily destroyed- Government Officials including Disaster Management Experts were also victims

Lesson 1Delay of First Response due to lack of information

•Damaged Headquarter•Local Government Command initially paralyzed•Destroyed almost all traffic system•Telecommunication, even satellite

telecommunication system were cut off due to power failure

⇒ It took three days to grasp the entire picture of damage

Kobe Municipal Government Headquarter