Suitability of the early warning systems and temporary housing for the elderly population in the immediacy and transitional recovery phase of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

<p>In order to be effective, warning systems need to both reach those at risk and prompt appropriate action. We study the efficacy of early warning systems in prompting residents to take appropriate action ahead of severe hazards in island countries that experience regular disasters, namely following the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan, Typhoon Yolanda in The Phillippines, and Hurricane Maria in Dominica. All these events were extreme in their impact and in addition had aspects which surprised residents such as the size of the tsunami, the strom surge and the late change in intensity which provided challenges with warning. We find that multiple forms of warning are needed in order for the whole population to be reached as no one form of warning reaches everyone. The timing of the warning is important for evacuation decisions including who stays and who evacuates. It is important that the whole cycle of a warning system is considered, and that it is viewed as a process, such that we consider the scientific, communications, social and infrastructure aspects of warning systems.</p>

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Re-Increased Male Suicide Rates in the Recovery Phase Following the Great East Japan Earthquake

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000656 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (6) ◽

pp. 422-428 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Masatsugu Orui

Keyword(s):

Social Connectedness ◽

Recovery Phase ◽

Great East Japan Earthquake ◽

Temporary Housing ◽

Period Analysis ◽

Suicide Rates ◽

Male Suicide ◽

The Social ◽

The Difference

Abstract. Background: Monitoring of suicide rates in the recovery phase following a devastating disaster has been limited. Aim: We report on a 7-year follow-up of the suicide rates in the area affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, which occurred in March 2011. Method: This descriptive study covered the period from March 2009 to February 2018. Period analysis was used to divide the 108-month study period into nine segments, in which suicide rates were compared with national averages using Poisson distribution. Results: Male suicide rates in the affected area from March 2013 to February 2014 increased to a level higher than the national average. After subsequently dropping, the male rates from March 2016 to February 2018 re-increased and showed a greater difference compared with the national averages. The difference became significant in the period from March 2017 to February 2018 ( p = .047). Limitations: Specific reasons for increasing the rates in the recovery phase were not determined. Conclusion: The termination of the provision of free temporary housing might be influential in this context. Provision of temporary housing was terminated from 2016, which increased economic hardship among needy evacuees. Furthermore, disruption of the social connectedness in the temporary housing may have had an influence. Our findings suggest the necessity of suicide rate monitoring even in the recovery phase.

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The CARE Telematics Network for the Surveillance of Influenza in Europe

Methods of Information in Medicine ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1634617 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 34 (05) ◽

pp. 518-522 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

M. Bensadon ◽

A. Strauss ◽

R. Snacken

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Early Warning ◽

Early Warning Systems ◽

Warning Systems ◽

Surveillance Networks ◽

Spanish Flu ◽

The 1950S ◽

National Networks ◽

First Time

Abstract:Since the 1950s, national networks for the surveillance of influenza have been progressively implemented in several countries. New epidemiological arguments have triggered changes in order to increase the sensitivity of existent early warning systems and to strengthen the communications between European networks. The WHO project CARE Telematics, which collects clinical and virological data of nine national networks and sends useful information to public health administrations, is presented. From the results of the 1993-94 season, the benefits of the system are discussed. Though other telematics networks in this field already exist, it is the first time that virological data, absolutely essential for characterizing the type of an outbreak, are timely available by other countries. This argument will be decisive in case of occurrence of a new strain of virus (shift), such as the Spanish flu in 1918. Priorities are now to include other existing European surveillance networks.

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