Understanding the Usage Status of the Disaster Memorial Facilities of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Suggestions for Effective Utilization: Focusing on the Purpose of Visitors and the Effect on Behavioral Modification of Disaster Preparedness

Abstract

This study investigates how to utilize Disaster Memorial Facilities in the affected area by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake to pass on the disaster effectively. We conducted an Internet survey among visitors and non-visitors to the affected area (N=1,775). The results can be summarized as follows. 1) Visitors who have never visited the affected area for learning purposes also visit Disaster Memorial Facilities. 2) Visitors expect to learn about disaster response, recovery, and reconstruction after the disaster, but these expectations have not been fully met. 3) The 46 facilities can be classified into four groups based on the visitor’s purpose and the effect on promoting disaster preparedness. Some facilities are effective in promoting disaster preparedness even though many of visitors are non-learning visitors.