Effect of Risk Communication Method on Earthquake Disaster Prevention Activity

The capability of resident-led responses to disasters has declined in recent years due to rapid changes in social and urban structures in Japan. In order to improve regional disaster prevention capabilities with regard to disaster risk, which includes a multitude of uncertainties induced by societal changes, it is necessary to reorganize conventional ways of disaster risk management from top-down to bottom-up principle of complementarity with residents as the base point. A multilayered disaster prevention system, corresponded to the diversity of local self-governing activities by residents in ordinary times, would improve regional capabilities for disaster prevention and also increase the likelihood that these capabilities could be expressed in the response at the time of a disaster. This is what we postulate in this paper as a new mode of 'disaster risk governance'. The effectiveness of this postulation will be verified based on a case study of the disaster response by residents in the Kitajo district of Kashiwazaki City, Niigata Prefecture at the time of the Chuetsu-Oki Earthquake, which occurred on July 16, 2007. On that basis, we have developed a new disaster risk communication method in which residents and other stakeholders can ; i) develop an awareness of the current situation of the disaster risk governance structure and related problems, ii) organize a variety of district self-government networks in ordinary times, iii) build a multilayered disaster prevention system that makes use of those networks and other local resources for disaster prevention, and iv) link these efforts to specific disaster prevention activities. To confirm its effectiveness, we have applied this method to the residents-led workshops with voluntary disaster prevention organizations in Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture.

Download Full-text

Characterizing Risk Communication and Awareness for Sustainable Society: The Case of Foreign Residents in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area of Japan

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13115786 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 5786

Author(s):

Bismark Adu-Gyamfi ◽

Rajib Shaw

Keyword(s):

Risk Communication ◽

Metropolitan Area ◽

Disaster Preparedness ◽

Primary Data ◽

Disaster Prevention ◽

Sustainable Society ◽

Vulnerable Group ◽

Tokyo Metropolitan ◽

Tokyo Metropolitan Area ◽

The World

Many disasters occur in Japan, and therefore many initiatives to educate and integrate foreign residents into its society to overcome systematic barriers and enhance disaster preparedness have been implemented. Nevertheless, studies have highlighted foreign residents as a vulnerable group who are at risk of disasters in the country. The country anticipates and prepares for potential mega-disasters in the future; therefore, effective risk communication is vital to creating the required awareness and preparation. Therefore, this study looked at the changing foreigner–Japanese population mix in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area to ascertain its level of diversity and risk communication characteristics. It used secondary and primary data to analyze how heterogeneity among foreigners translates into a different understanding of their awareness. The study reveals that the 23 special wards within the Tokyo Metropolitan area can be compared to other recognized diverse cities in the world, with Shinjuku city, Minato city, Arakawa, and Taito cities being the most heterogeneous cities in Tokyo. Nevertheless, diversity within foreign residents creates diversity in information-gathering preferences, disaster drill participation preferences, and the overall knowledge in disaster prevention. The study suggests the use of these preferences as a tool to promote targeted risk communication mechanisms.

Download Full-text

Taking the heterogeneity of citizens into account: flood risk communication in coastal cities – a case study of Bremen

Natural Hazards and Earth System Science ◽

10.5194/nhess-9-1931-2009 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 1931-1940 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

T. Martens ◽

H. Garrelts ◽

H. Grunenberg ◽

H. Lange

Keyword(s):

Risk Communication ◽

Flood Risk ◽

Media Analysis ◽

Specific Information ◽

Flood Hazards ◽

Meso Level ◽

Flood Risks ◽

Protective Actions ◽

Distribution Of Resources

Abstract. The likely manifestations of climate change like flood hazards are prominent topics in public communication. This can be shown by media analysis and questionnaire data. However, in the case of flood risks an information gap remains resulting in misinformed citizens who probably will not perform the necessary protective actions when an emergency occurs. This paper examines more closely a newly developed approach to flood risk communication that takes the heterogeneity of citizens into account and aims to close this gap. The heterogeneity is analysed on the meso level regarding differences in residential situation as well as on the micro level with respect to risk perception and protective actions. Using the city of Bremen as a case study, empirical data from n=831 respondents were used to identify Action Types representing different states of readiness for protective actions in view of flood risks. These subpopulations can be provided with specific information to meet their heterogeneous needs for risk communication. A prototype of a computer-based information system is described that can produce and pass on such tailored information. However, such an approach to risk communication has to be complemented by meso level analysis which takes the social diversity of subpopulations into account. Social vulnerability is the crucial concept for understanding the distribution of resources and capacities among different social groups. We therefore recommend putting forums and organisations into place that can mediate between the state and its citizens.

Download Full-text