Abstract
In this paper, the authors discuss a plausible decision making structure for emergency management, which enables the decision makers to determine the spatial range and timing for enforced evacuation of local citizens and business entities from volcanic eruption risks, by investigating the case of Mt. “Usu” - whereby rather informative documents are available for our investigation. In doing so, risk evaluation methods, emergency management countermeasures and the role of professionals are summarized along the emergent management time line. The preconditions to establish the legitimacy of the judgement criteria and decision making are the major concerns of our investigation. The paper concludes by proposing some basic directions which may improve the decision making scheme in emergency of volcanic eruption.
