Analysis of the Radioactive Material Adhering to Doctor-Helicopter in the Disaster Relief of the Great East Japan Earthquake

ABSTRACTCooperation between civilian and military forces, including the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF), enabled wide-ranging disaster relief after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Nevertheless, many preventable fatalities occurred, particularly related to an inability to treat chronic disease, indicating the need to plan for the provision of long-term medical aid after natural disasters in stricken areas and evacuation shelters. To assist in this effort, this report (1) provides an overview of the consequences of the medical response to the Great East Japan Earthquake, the largest natural disaster ever to hit Japan, focusing on the role and actions of the JSDF; (2) discusses the lessons learned regarding the provision of medical aid and management by the JSDF after this disaster, looking at the special challenges of meeting the needs of a rapidly aging population in a disaster situation; and (3) provides recommendations for the development of strategies for the long-term medical aid and support after natural disasters, especially with regard to the demographics of the Japanese population.

Download Full-text

Function of Social Capital Embedded in Religious Communities at Times of Disaster: Cases of Disaster Relief Activity by a Muslim Community and a Soka Gakkai Community in Japan

Journal of Disaster Research ◽

10.20965/jdr.2018.p1323 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 1323-1332

Author(s):

Nobuyuki Asai ◽

Keyword(s):

Social Capital ◽

Case Studies ◽

Disaster Relief ◽

Great East Japan Earthquake ◽

Religious Community ◽

Religious Communities ◽

Muslim Community ◽

Kumamoto Earthquake ◽

Soka Gakkai

In studies of disasters, cases of religious communities providing support to victims at times of disaster have been reported. Such support can be understood as a function of social capital within religious communities. This paper considers the case studies of disaster relief activities provided by a Muslim community and a Soka Gakkai Buddhist community in Japan after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 and the Kumamoto Earthquake in 2016. It also analyzes how each religious community functioned from the viewpoints of three kinds of social capital: “bonding,” “bridging,” and “linking” and identify challenges faced by religious communities at times of disaster.

Download Full-text

Special Issue on the Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster: Part V

Journal of Disaster Research ◽

10.20965/jdr.2016.p0769 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (sp) ◽

pp. 769-769

Author(s):

Katsuki Takiguchi ◽

Keyword(s):

Nuclear Power ◽

Earth Science ◽

Great East Japan Earthquake ◽

Radioactive Material ◽

Disaster Prevention ◽

Special Issue ◽

Academic Journal ◽

The 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes ◽

The Pacific ◽

Urban Safety

Journal of Disaster Research (JDR) published its first issue in August, 2006. Since then, we have published six issues a year on a bimonthly basis. JDR is an academic journal aimed at bringing a broad, comprehensive discussion to the subject of disasters, and thus contributing to the field of disaster prevention and reduction. Its comprehensive coverage harbors the risk of becoming unfocussed or fostering unsubstantiated conclusions. At JDR, we have dealt with this risk by making most issues special feature issues, and inviting specialists in the relevant fields as guest editors. The Great East Japan Earthquake occurred on March, 2011, five years after our first issue was published. It was a Mw9.0 earthquake that occurred off the Pacific coast of the Tohoku region. The earthquake triggered a tsunami which produced huge casualties, amounting to over 18,000 dead or missing persons. The disaster was accompanied by a nuclear plant accident, an unprecedented event in mankind’s history. The catastrophic accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, operated by Tokyo Electric Company, resulted in core meltdown and the release of radioactive material. At JDR, we considered it our responsibility to publish, apart from our regular issues, special issues on the Great East Japan Earthquake consisting of five yearly issues beginning with the first issue in 2012. This issue, Part 5, is the final issue. We would like to thank all of the authors who submitted articles for the five special issues, the reviewers, and many others who contributed. The special issues project on the Great East Japan Earthquake will be passed down to a special issue on the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes occurred on April, 2016 in Kumamoto, Japan. Co-Editors: Suminao Murakami (Editor-in-Chief; Representative, Laboratory of Urban Safety Planning, Japan) Haruo Hayashi (Editor-in-Chief; President, National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention, Japan) Hideaki Karaki (President, Foundation of Food Safety and Security, Japan)

Download Full-text

Lessons Learned from the Aeromedical Disaster Relief Activities Following the Great East Japan Earthquake

Prehospital and Disaster Medicine ◽

10.1017/s1049023x12001835 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 166-169 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Hisashi Matsumoto ◽

Tomokazu Motomura ◽

Yoshiaki Hara ◽

Yukiko Masuda ◽

Kunihiro Mashiko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Local Government ◽

Disaster Relief ◽

Command And Control ◽

Helicopter Emergency Medical Service ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Great East Japan Earthquake ◽

Direct Control ◽

Medical Assistance ◽

Publication Type ◽

And Control

AbstractIntroductionSince 2001, a Japanese national project has developed a helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) system (“doctor-helicopter”) and a central Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) composed of mobile and trained medical teams for rapid deployment during the response phase of a disaster.ProblemIn Japan, the DMAT Research Group has focused on command and control of doctor-helicopters in future disasters. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of such planning, as well as the problems encountered in deploying the doctor-helicopter fleet with DMAT members following the March 11, 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.MethodsThis study was undertaken to examine the effectiveness of aeromedical disaster relief activities following the Great East Japan Earthquake and to evaluate the assembly and operations of 15 doctor-helicopter teams dispatched for patient evacuation with medical support.ResultsFifteen DMATs from across Japan were deployed from March 11th through March 13th to work out of two doctor-helicopter base hospitals. The dispatch center at each base hospital directed its own doctor-helicopter fleet under the command of DMAT headquarters to transport seriously injured or ill patients out of hospitals located in the disaster area. Disaster Medical Assistance Teams transported 149 patients using the doctor-helicopters during the first five days after the earthquake. The experiences and problems encountered point to the need for DMATs to maintain direct control over 1) communication between DMAT headquarters and dispatch centers; 2) information management concerning patient transportation; and 3) operation of the doctor-helicopter fleet during relief activities. As there is no rule of prioritization for doctor-helicopters to refuel ahead of other rotorcraft, many doctor-helicopters had to wait in line to refuel.ConclusionThe “doctor-helicopter fleet” concept was vital to Japan's disaster medical assistance and rescue activities. The smooth and immediate dispatch of the doctor-helicopter fleet must occur under the direct control of the DMAT, independent from local government authority. Such a command and control system for dispatching the doctor-helicopter fleet is strongly recommended, and collaboration with local government authorities concerning refueling priority should be addressed.MatsumotoH,MotomuraT,HaraY,MasudaY,MashikoK,YokotaH,KoidoY.Lessons learned from the aeromedical disaster relief activities during the Great East Japan Earthquake.Prehosp Disaster Med.2013;28(2):1-4.

Download Full-text

What Do Music Therapists Need to Know Before the Disaster Strikes?

Voices A World Forum for Music Therapy ◽

10.15845/voices.v12i1.625 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Masako Otera

Keyword(s):

Music Therapy ◽

Disaster Relief ◽

National Level ◽

General Information ◽

Great East Japan Earthquake ◽

Music Therapists ◽

Music Therapist ◽

Relief Service ◽

The Individual ◽

Post Disaster

The paper discusses required knowledge in preparation for a disaster relief. The author shares her experience of the Great East Japan Earthquake and reviews how she went through the post-disaster phase as a music therapist. The author has made three suggestions for change in music therapy as a disaster relief. First, specific topics on disaster relief should be included in music therapy educational courses. This should cover general information regarding natural and human-made disasters and disaster relief. Second, making connections with related organizations, both the individual and national level is also suggested. Third, the further accumulation of studies on music therapy as a disaster relief service is needed.

Download Full-text

JOB OPPORTUNITY AND OWNERSHIP STATUS: RETURN DECISION AFTER THE GREAT EAST JAPAN EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI

The Singapore Economic Review ◽

10.1142/s0217590816400087 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 61 (01) ◽

pp. 1640008 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

MOHAMMAD SANAEI ◽

SHINYA HORIE ◽

SHUNSUKE MANAGI

Keyword(s):

Disaster Relief ◽

Great East Japan Earthquake ◽

Age Group ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Ownership Status ◽

Job Opportunity ◽

Original Region ◽

Unique Dataset

Disasters result in disruptive effects on various aspects of community in different scales and disaster relief is important in understanding negative effects from the shock. Using unique dataset after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, the decision return to the original residence is analyzed in this study. We find that having jobs related to the original region and ownership status have the largest impact on the return decision. Furthermore, these results are different for each age group.

Download Full-text