Tsunami Disaster of Port Facilities by 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Preparedness for the Worst Case

Abstract

The Great East Japan Earthquake generated a huge tsunami and caused devastating disasters in the coastal towns facing the Pacific Ocean. The tsunami attacked all the Pacific coasts in Japan impacting the coastal towns from Hokkaido to Chiba Prefecture. Especially devastating disasters occurred in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima Prefectures.
In this report the tsunami heights along the coasts are estimated using measured offshore GPS data and the damage of breakwaters in Hachinohe, Kamaishi and Souma port are described. Preparedness for the worst case is discussed as an important lesson we learned from the disaster.