A Study on Inter-Local-Government-Assisatance during Large Scale/Wide-Area Disasters

Case Study of Kobe City Assistance to Eastern Japan Earthquake Disaster Hit Municipality Goverments

Abstract

The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake has taught us that municipality based-reliant activities alone are not effective and that inter-local-government-assistance is of paramount importance. Moreover the Great East Japan Ealihquake, which was a large-scale and wide-area disaster, reminded us of the importance of emergency support systems among local governments. The purpose of this study is to find solutions to the problems of the current local governments' emergency support system based on case study of Kobe city assistance to the affected municipality governments. The result emphasizes the importance of improving power to receive outside support in addition to improving power to provide support to ensure the promptness and effectiveness of inter-local-government-assistance.