1. DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND
RECOVERY IN NORTHEAST JAPAN
Miyazaki, M1., Ramdani, F1
1Geo-environment, Institute of Geography, Earth Science Department, Graduate School of
Science, Tohoku University, JAPAN

2. • Sendai City’s population is approximately 1 million people (Census 2008), and this City
located in center of the Tohoku Region.
• Sendai City was hit by the big earthquake in 1978 and 2011. In March 11, 2011 a subsequent
major tsunami hit Sendai but without causing much damage in the center of the city. In other
areas however, especially on the coastal area including Sendai Airport major damage was
reported.
• The tsunami reportedly reached as far as Wakabayashi Ward Office, 8 kilometers from the
coastline. This disaster led to the death of 14,435 people, injured more than 5,314, and
damage 76,713 houses (totally collapse) (NPAJ, 2011).
• This research evaluates the disaster management of Sendai City, Northeast Japan.

4. Before and After

6. • The Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995 was the final straw for rethink
earthquake disaster management in Japan.
• The earthquake event was generated a lot of damage inside the city, and
the support from government iwas very limited.
• Many people were saved by local residents actions than by rescue team
(Kawada, 1997).
• After Great Hanshin earthquake, the government began to add some
supplement to the existing policy of the city disaster, many governments
have been making community association for disaster management and
recovery. The organizations are expected to have many roles to support in,
as quick as possible after the disaster happen.

7. In Sendai City, a simulation of the earthquake firstly conduct in 2002, in this
simulation disaster plan based on the voluntary action in order to strengthening of
emergency contact and the creation of the city resistant to earthquake.
Voluntary organanization for disaster management support in neighborhood basically
is neighborhood association. Neighborhood association are listed in Table 1. the
families are members of this association.
This associations are actively involved in disaster management activities with the
cooperation of the school around the neighborhood location. Especially for foreign
peoples and students, Miyagi Prefecture has Miyagi International Association and
SIRA (Sendai International Relations Association) to support foreign nationals residing
in Miyagi with necessary action to prompt recovery from the disaster. This association
give support systems and consultation services for the victims of the disaster with
multilingual (English, Portuguese, Korea, and China)

8. Neighborhood association in Sendai City
District name Conduct an Neighborhood Member of
emergency drill association neighborhood
association (%)
Aoba 76 512 115289 (83.8)
Taihaku 96 271 78559 (86.5)
Miyagino 45 213 71918 (86.8)
Wakabayshi 40 178 50384 (89.2)
Izumi 63 205 77516 (92.2)

9. The power of community (Local level)
Headquarter
- President
-Vice President
Information Fire fighting Evacuation Rescue Food and
team team team team water
supply
team

10. Before After
earthquake earthquake
Safety check
Fire fighting
of the
(initial state)
community
Dissemination
Rescue
of knowledge
Conduct an Information
emergency collection &
drill transfer
Evacuation
Shelter
management

11. Sequences of action after earthquake
2-3 days 1 month 3 month 6 month 1 year
Event
Recovery 3
Emergency
Evacuation Recovery 1 Recovery 2 and
recovery reconstruction
Damage
Rescue, medical Construction
classification Get subsidy/ insurance/
care, evacuation, temporary
and repair/ reconstruction
quick inspection house
assessment
Emergency
supply (food,
equipment, etc)
Transportation recovery
Lifelines recovery (water, gas, electricity)
Waste (human waste, garbage, debris, etc)

12. Risk inspection and safety declaration
Central Disaster Prime Minister and Minister of State
Management for Disaster Management
Council
Decision of risk-
Disaster Information
inspection
Prefecture Chief of disaster countermeasure office
Decision of risk-
Disaster Information
inspection practice
Director of
Local Setup risk-inspection
division
government emergency headquater
concerned
Event

13. Declaration of safety building

16. Simulation of escaping to evacuation area
• For simulation of destination place to evacuate when the earthquake ocurs we applied
GIS modeling using ArcGIS software.
• It is understood that old peoples are more vulnerable than young peoples for the
disaster event. Figure 7 shows the spatial distribution of the young and old peoples.
• There are 10 Universities in Sendai, and many young people living allone. Many old
peoples in Sendai City are living with they spouse. The last type of peoples have settled
in certain areas, which is insufficient to measures in the area.
• On figure 8 we show the time needed to reach shelter designated area in Sendai City.
Many residences can arrive within 15 minutes. But some suburban residences need 30
minutes to arrive in the evacuation area.
• In the case of March 11 earthquake, some designated area with high density of
population could not handle to much refugees in one place (such as Sanjoumachi
evacuation area). In the second day of evacuation at Sanjoumachi, the foods and drinks,
and also the emergency toilet were in adequate already.

17. Evacuation time in elementary school zone

18. In summary
 This study has revealed two matters. The first things is the stockpile
by city authorities distributed in a patchy fashion by comparison of
the high population density distribution. More designated area are
expected to increase. Secondly, the organization does not have
sufficient members to support many refugees. The organization’s
activities are not known by local residents, instead of policies to
assist the city, the organization’s activities are running as an
independent action. The new policy need to be established to give
people awareness of the disaster, and the simulation will not
become speculative activity in the city.
 Sendai City also give support for foreign nationals and foreign
student with Miyagi International Association and SIRA, these
organizations play a main role in order to support foreign peoples in
Miyagi Prefecture to recovery from disaster.

19. Another example from another City
• On a small island about 30 minutes by boat from Shiogama, Miyagi
Prefecture, but none of the approximately 80 residents on the island was
killed by the tsunami, thanks to a disaster prevention map and an
evacuation route created more than half a century ago. They had also
prepared for the possibility of disaster by conducting emergency drills
over and over. All residents escaped half hour before tsunami hit.
(japantimes.com, Tuesday, May 24, 2011)
Planning pays off: Residents at
Nonoshima Island in Miyagi Prefecture
gather to draw up a disaster prevention
map in August 2008. KYODO PHOTO

20. Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture
• Students credit survival to disaster-preparedness drills. After quake, instincts
kicked in to get everyone to higher ground. (japantimes.com, Saturday, June 4,
2011) KAMIYA PHOTO
Standing tall: Kamaishi East One of the school's classrooms is A sign reading "General waste,
Junior High School students Kana seen full of debris. SETSUKO city of Kamaishi" stands in front
Sasaki (left), Fumiya Akasaka KAMIYA PHOTO of Kamaishi East Junior High
(center) and Aki Kawasaki pose School in late May. YOSHIAKI
for a picture in late May. MIURA PHOTO
SETSUKO

21. Indonesian Student took actions
Ayukawahama, Ishinomaki, May 22nd, 2011
Tagajo, May 28th, 2011 and
Higashimatsushima, May 29th, 2011

22. どうもありがとうございました
Thank you for your attention