2010 Volume 8 Pages 96-104
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) started Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) to the public since October 1, 2007. When the 2008 Iwate-Miyagi inland earthquake occurred on July 14, 2008, EEW was provided to the regions whose intensities of shaking were expected to be more than JMA 4. The warning was widely broadcasted by TV, radio, mobile phones and loudspeakers. It was not only the first earthquake since October, 2007 that EEW could be successfully broadcasted before the arrival of strong tremors, but also the first earthquake that EEW was broadcasted through loudspeakers by J-ALERT system.
In Shonai Town, Yamagata prefecture, EEW was broadcasted through loudspeakers by J-ALERT system to the residents at the 2008 Iwate-Miyagi inland earthquake. In this research, a questionnaire survey was conducted to understand residents' response to the warning. 800 questionnaire sheets were distributed in the town and 591 answers were obtained. The ratio of the respondents who heard the broadcasting of EEW by loudspeakers was twice as many as those who got EEW by TV. It is verified that broadcasting by J-ALERT system is useful to convey EEW widely at the same time. However, most people tried to get information by TV or radio after hearing EEW. The result of the survey revealed that residents' understanding on proper response to EEW was insufficient and it is necessary to enhance residents' capacity to take proper action after the warning.
