Earthquake and Tsunami
Disaster Response Timelines
Hyogo Prefecture
Background and Purpose of Project
As a Nankai trough earthquake may occur in the
achieved by specified times.
-List of Responsible Sections and Organisations:
near future, it is necessary to prepare for it.
Sections and organisations related to specific
Devising an action plan in advance was deemed
targets are listed.
effective for dealing with a disaster smoothly in the
3. Time Frames and Division of Operations
initial emergency response period after an earth-
-The week after the disaster occurs is divided into
quake or tsunami occurs. (About a week from the
Phases 1 - 9.
occurrence of the disaster).
-Actions that should be carried out are classified
into 10 fields from A to J, depending on the types
Outline of Project
of operations rather than the sections involved.
An action plan arranged in a timeline was created
(A. General Management, B. Response to Tsu-
for all Hyogo prefectural government
nami, C. Search and Rescue, D. Medical Services,
organisations to use according to a chronological
E. Emergency Aid for Evacuees, F. Roads, Ports
order of events.
and Railroads, G. Secondary Disaster Prevention,
It is used as a checklist to confirm the progress of
H. Handling of Bodies, I. Home Restoration, Life
disaster response and decide priorities for opera-
Reconstruction, J. Responses by Prefectural Staff
tions in line with how the situation has developed
and Offices)
and how many staff are available.
In November 2015, mock disaster response
Characteristics of Action Plan
headquarters were established and a drill was
1. Timeline Format
carried out in accordance with an action plan.
-Main targets that should be achieved in each time
frame are set for each operational field. (One ver-
Features and Advanced Aspects
sion each for weekday daytime and holiday
◆Prototype for Earthquake Response Timeline at
night-time, as staff availability will vary.)
Prefectural Level
-To set targets, the disaster reduction planning
-It is clear what operations should be initiated,
division worked out draft targets, asked other
when they should be initiated by, and the time
related prefectural government sections their
frame they should be completed in.
opinions and made necessary adjustments.
-Parties concerned can share information on the
2. Three-Part Composition for Ease of Use
current situation and plans for the future.
-Comprehensive Table: Designed to get an overall
◆Conversion
of
Implicit
(Knowledge
Disaster
from
Response
picture of events and actions.
Knowledge
Experience)
-Phase Slips: Checklists of targets that should be
gained from Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake
into Codified Knowledge
FEMA (the U.S. Federal Emergency Management
-Thanks to the checklists, none of the planned
Agency) and others.
disaster response measures will be overlooked.
◆After Start of Project
-Items that should be discussed at the disaster
In this project, a timeline style was adopted. While
response headquarters in each phase can be
no such action plans for earthquake or tsunami
determined in advance.
disasters existed at the prefectural level, there
◆Selected Best Policy Measure (in Disaster Re-
were typhoon disaster response actions plans in
duction and Crisis Management Area) in Fiscal
this style. But there were still no materials that
2015 Contest of Advanced Policy Measures by
showed in a comprehensive way who should do
the National Governors' Association
what and when. Especially lacking were materials
on specifically when to take action.
Effects of Project
To identify what actions were taken at what junc-
◆It is clear what operations should be initiated,
tures, research was conducted into records of
when they should be initiated by, and the time
past disasters including the 1995 Great Han-
frame they should be completed in.
shin-Awaji Earthquake, the 2011 Great East Japan
◆It has become possible for the parties concerned
Earthquake and a major earthquake at the Awaji
to share information on the current situation and
Island in 2013. In addition, much advice was ob-
plans for the future.
tained from victims of the Great Hanshin-Awaji
◆It has become clear in advance what the
Earthquake and experts.
disaster response headquarters should focus
discussions on in each phase.
◆It has become easier to set priorities in
operations in each phase.
◆Timeline-style checklists have made it easier to
Outlook
Additional drills in accordance with the action plan
will help improve capabilities to deal with disasters.
This action plan timeline will be a prototype for all
prevent disaster response measures from being
prefectures facing risks of earthquake and
overlooked, even for officials who have just
tsunami disasters and will hopefully become a
joined their current sections.
standard.
Problems and Responses
Reference URL
◆Before Project Implementation
http://web.pref.hyogo.lg.jp/kk38/jishintsunamihigai
An objective had been set to create an action plan
soutei.html *Japanese
for disaster response measures in advance and
awareness had been raised, but no clear image
Contact
was shared regarding the appropriate format, style,
[email protected]
or content.
+81-78-362-9809
Research into similar projects at other prefectures
Disaster Reduction Planning Division of Disaster
found few materials that could be relied on. For
Reduction Planning Bureau under Hyogo Prefec-
more clues, the scope of the research was ex-
tural Government's Planning and Citizen Affairs
panded to include papers by researchers pre-
Department
sented at government committee and academic
society conferences, etc., as well as measures by
Phase of Action by City and Town
Governments and Fire Authorities
Natural Phenomenon
Medical Sector's Response
Response to Tsunami
e
General Management
Ports and Railroads
Search and
Emergency Aid for
Handling of Bodies
Prevention of Secondary
Evacuees, etc.
Rescue
(Warnings from Local
Response Related to Roads,
Home Restoration, Disaster
Disasters
Victim Life Reconstruction
Governments)
Response by Prefectural
Staff and Offices
3 Minutes
44 Minutes
90 Minutes
From End of Earthquake to Tsunami Warning Issuance
Shortest Tsunami Arrival Time in Hyogo Prefecture
4 Hours
Prefectural Disaster Response Headquarters
Meeting
12 Hours
24 Hours
48 Hours
72 Hours
One Week
Time Frame