An Attempt of Extracting and Sharing Lessons Learned from Experiences of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster Based on the Viewpoints of Experts on Disaster Science: The “Database of Lessons from March 11, 2011”

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 881-888 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shosuke Sato ◽  
◽  
Fumihiko Imamura ◽  

It is important to extract, clarify, and share the lessons learned from disasters to enhance preparedness for and effective responses in a disaster. This paper aims to describe the development of a web database system to share lessons learned by disaster science experts based on experiences of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster. First, an interview survey was conducted with local government officers in areas identified as being at risk during the Nankai Trough Earthquake to identify their needs. Next, we reported on the use of the system for three months after its release based on analyses of access log data.

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (sp) ◽  
pp. 421-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suminao Murakami

Concerned experts and others from a wide range of fields are required to take part in studies on “social” disaster phenomena such as earthquakes and typhoons causing drastic human and property damage and leaving subsequent social and economic destruction. In 2006, the Journal of Disaster Research (JDR) decided to be published as an academic journal in English for global society to help expand research beyond a domestic scope. The March 11, 2011, Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster – in the 6th year of the journal’s publication, has made an impact both domestically and globally due to the unprecedented earthquake and tsunami and resulting radiation leakage at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. JDR will annually publish special issues on the Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster beginning in this issue of 2012, for five years, for the purpose of informing, recording and utilizing lessons learned from the disaster. Page charges are in principle free and widespread contributions are welcomed. I have studied disasters from the viewpoint of a planner. Nobody who is active and living in society is irrelevant to wide-scale events related to such disasters, and I still feel that it is important for people from a variety of fields to visit devastated sites, hear from the people experiencing such disasters and make their own standpoints. In American society, for example, disaster measures against earthquakes and other disasters have been studied involving a wide range of experts and others. After the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake in Kobe, research groups consisting of wide range of experts came to be formed in Japan and environments developed to produce a multidisciplinary journal such as the JDR. The ultimate goal of planned research is human research. A society is needed in which “human power” can be manifested in all aspects such as reviving reconstruction and rehabilitation. This is because contributions by researchers from widespread fields are anticipated in the future.


2013 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hisashi Matsumoto ◽  
Tomokazu Motomura ◽  
Yoshiaki Hara ◽  
Yukiko Masuda ◽  
Kunihiro Mashiko ◽  
...  

AbstractIntroductionSince 2001, a Japanese national project has developed a helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) system (“doctor-helicopter”) and a central Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) composed of mobile and trained medical teams for rapid deployment during the response phase of a disaster.ProblemIn Japan, the DMAT Research Group has focused on command and control of doctor-helicopters in future disasters. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of such planning, as well as the problems encountered in deploying the doctor-helicopter fleet with DMAT members following the March 11, 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.MethodsThis study was undertaken to examine the effectiveness of aeromedical disaster relief activities following the Great East Japan Earthquake and to evaluate the assembly and operations of 15 doctor-helicopter teams dispatched for patient evacuation with medical support.ResultsFifteen DMATs from across Japan were deployed from March 11th through March 13th to work out of two doctor-helicopter base hospitals. The dispatch center at each base hospital directed its own doctor-helicopter fleet under the command of DMAT headquarters to transport seriously injured or ill patients out of hospitals located in the disaster area. Disaster Medical Assistance Teams transported 149 patients using the doctor-helicopters during the first five days after the earthquake. The experiences and problems encountered point to the need for DMATs to maintain direct control over 1) communication between DMAT headquarters and dispatch centers; 2) information management concerning patient transportation; and 3) operation of the doctor-helicopter fleet during relief activities. As there is no rule of prioritization for doctor-helicopters to refuel ahead of other rotorcraft, many doctor-helicopters had to wait in line to refuel.ConclusionThe “doctor-helicopter fleet” concept was vital to Japan's disaster medical assistance and rescue activities. The smooth and immediate dispatch of the doctor-helicopter fleet must occur under the direct control of the DMAT, independent from local government authority. Such a command and control system for dispatching the doctor-helicopter fleet is strongly recommended, and collaboration with local government authorities concerning refueling priority should be addressed.MatsumotoH,MotomuraT,HaraY,MasudaY,MashikoK,YokotaH,KoidoY.Lessons learned from the aeromedical disaster relief activities during the Great East Japan Earthquake.Prehosp Disaster Med.2013;28(2):1-4.


2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (sp) ◽  
pp. 729-729
Author(s):  
Haruo Hayashi

The Journal of Disaster Research (JDR), published bimonthly in English since 2006 as a Japan-based academic journal, promotes multidisciplinary research on disaster reduction due to all hazards – natural, unintended and intended. Since the Great East Japan Earthquake disaster on March 11, 2011, we have worked as our duty to provide a forum for all stakeholders and researchers in the world to describe what happened scientifically in terms of human and property damage and in subsequent social and economic damage by this unprecedented occurrence, including the incident involving Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. As one contribution, JDR is publishing special annual issues for the next five years on the Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster – with NO PAGE CHARGES TO CONTRIBUTORS. This effort began in 2012. The purpose of these special issues is to record, communicate and share the lessons learned from this disaster. In our second special issue, 16 papers were submitted and we are proud to introduce 11 papers touching on different aspects of the Great East Japan Earthquake disaster. We are sure you will find these papers interesting and informative. We also look forward to receiving contributions for the third special issue, which will be published in the summer of 2014.


Health ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 06 (10) ◽  
pp. 870-878
Author(s):  
Hatsumi Yoshii ◽  
Hidemitsu Saito ◽  
Saya Kikuchi ◽  
Takashi Ueno ◽  
Kineko Sato

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 20-29
Author(s):  
Seung-Geun Oh ◽  
Young-Hee Im ◽  
Yong-Wha Chung ◽  
Jin-Kyung Chang ◽  
Dai-Hee Park

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