Reviewing Disaster Prevention Measures

Having experienced unimaginably huge disaster in East Japan Great Earthquake, the government of Japan reviews the system of disaster management for the first time, since Large-scale Earthquake Management Act was activated in 1978. New measures for disaster prevention will not be based on technology for predicting major earthquake. The government is going to prepare for a great earthquake with more realistic measures not depending on scientific prediction.

Large-scale Earthquake Management Act was established for dealing with possible Tokai Great Earthquake, which was recognized as the only predictable major earthquake affecting Japan. When the government detects an auspice of earthquake underground, Prime Minister issues “declaration of warning” as a requirement of the law. To prevent disaster, 157 cities or towns in 8 prefectures take measures such as stopping trains and buses or closing schools.

As disaster study made progresss, it was realized that prediction of earthquake was further difficult than expected. One working group on disaster prevention concluded in 2013 that accurate prediction would be difficult. A working group in Central Disaster Prevention Council started study on possible Southern Sea Trough Great Earthquake, including Tokai Great Earthquake, last September. “Although Large-scale Earthquake Management Act is based on prediction, that basis has been changed and current disaster prevention measures need to be reviewed,” says the draft of final report of the group. Issuance of Prime Minister’s declaration will also be reviewed.

While CDPC finds the prediction impossible, disaster prevention needs to be prepared for various kinds of events such as an earthquake occurring in a part of possible earthquake area or minor earthquake with requirement of evacuation from tsunami. The national government urges each local government making disaster prevention plan even without concrete information for the prediction.

National government also assumes to have development plan in Tokyo metropolitan area for disaster prevention by Tokyo Olympic in 2020. It will reinforce capital highway, remove telegraph poles around stadiums, take measures for refugees unable to go home in major train stations and prepare waterbus to send foreign travelers to Haneda Airport. Learning the lessons in East Japan Great Earthquake, the measures include management of broad confusion among the people, recognizing certain limit of technological breakthrough in great earthquake.