Abstract
Snowstorm on roads create serious disaster in winter in Hokkaido, Japan. From 2 to 3 March 2013, one of Japan's largest disaster on roads due to snowstorm occurred in Eastern Hokkaido. Nine people were killed due to snowdrifts on roads, and many vehicles were trapped in snowdrifts. After this disaster, the Hokkaido Prefecture built up a risk communication systems in snowstorm aims to prevent and mitigate damage. From 16 to 19 February 2014, there was the same size snowstorm in 2013. However, damages in 2014 were small. The aim of this report is to identify how the risk communication systems work to affect reducing damages of snowstorm. We conducted questionnaire survey to the general public and hearing investigation to regional administrators and road administrators after 2014 winter season. Results of investigations indicated increasing risk awareness of various stake holders to snowstorm in winter. Also, it is indicated that countermeasures like enhancing the partnerships among various stakeholders, choosing the early road close and early information to recommend staying indoors to the general public were effective to reduce damages due to snowstorms.
