Disaster responses of local communities and residents after the Great East Japan Earthquake in the city of Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture

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  • 茨城県日立市における地域コミュニティと 住民による東日本大震災後の防災対策
  • イバラキケン ヒタチシ ニ オケル チイキ コミュニティ ト ジュウミン ニ ヨル ヒガシニホン ダイシンサイ ゴ ノ ボウサイ タイサク

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Abstract

<p>Drawing on a case study of the city of Hitachi in Ibaraki prefecture, the study analyzes local responses for reconstruction after the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in peripheral regions of the disaster affected area. Based on the model of post-disaster reconstruction by Kates and Pijawka (1977), the paper describes local communities’ attitudes and residents’ disaster prevention awareness over four stages of reconstruction: emergency, restoration, replacement reconstruction, and developmental reconstruction periods. During the emergency period, we examined the operation of evacuation sites by local communities and residents’behavior. Between the emergency and restoration periods, we found that communication among residents and local communities was established in many districts. Many local communities gradually started discussion of their own disaster prevention plans in addition to or alongside the city’s plans. Some communities conducted their own evacuation drills, implemented their own disaster prevention plans. They also advanced claims to the city that requested better use of the evacuation facilities, establishment of new emergency water stations, to sink wells in all designated evacuation sites and so on. These requests have been harmonized during long-term discussion among local residents, communities and city governments. In peripheral regions like Hitachi, the reconstruction process took less time compared to the core regions and was largely managed by communication between residents, local communities, and the city government, not by large urban redevelopment projects drawing on the national budget.</p>

Journal

  • Urban Geography

    Urban Geography 9 (0), 56-68, 2013

    The Japanese society of Urban Geography

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