Understanding Mutual Assistance Coordination among Prefectures and Municipalities in a Multi-location

Disaster through the Experience of the Great East Japan Earthquake

Abstract

This study aims to clarify the existing system for coordination among local governments in a muliti-location disaster through the experience of the Great East Japan earthquake. In Japan, the Basic Disaster Act defines that the loss of municipal capacity would be supplemented through support from other municipalities, however, there is no effective coordination system in place. In the Great East Japan earthquake, municipalities along the pacific coast suffered severe human and physical losses. Prefectural governments tried to gather local needs and coordinate resources provided from other prefectural governments but it was difficult to match resources without an effective on-site mechanism for gathering and sharing information about needs and available resources.