Abstract
This study aims to investigate efficiency of the disaster information at the time of real heavy rainfall on the emergency management, mitigation, and human evacuation. Data of the information, damage and reaction of the people at Higashiyama town and Kawasaki village, Iwate prefecture are obtained through internet, field investigation, and questionnaire (the number of respondents: 700) in August 2002. The damaged area has repeatedly suffered flood and the typhoon No.0206 in July 2002 caused the worst damage over recent 30 years. During the heavy rain, the only 5% respondents to get real time rainfall and river water level through Internet, the 70% respondents did not know the system to obtain the information, suggesting the less known system among the residents even through real time data with the various information is available. However, the 74% of respondents at Kawasaki village answered that we referred to rainfall and water level information for reaction against disaster. The village office of Kawasaki announced the rainfall and water level information through the disaster wireless service, which were obtained by the people, meaning that the wireless service is more efficient than the Internet. The success or failure of carrying household goods from their homes is closely related with the use or non-use of the data of rainfall and water level information. This implies the importance of the disaster information such as rainfall and water level in the river in real time and prediction. Internet is one of the most efficient ways to provide with the information, however the access and use of it are still problem for the people.
