Lessons Learned from the Japan Earthquake: Role of Social

Workers in Disaster PreparationShiraishi Masanori, Ph.D.

Iwate Prefecture

Damaged area by tsunami

Iwate Prefecture

Purpose of Study Method Case Study Conclusion

Content of Presentation

A Magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Japan on March 11, 2011 at 14:46:18 (Japan Standard Time). Registering as the most powerful earthquake to hit Japan on record and as known as once in thousand years catastrophe. The earthquake churned up a devastating tsunami that swept over cities and farmland along the northern part of Japan. Walls of water whisked away houses and cars as terrified residents fled the coast. The earthquake has killed at least 15,833 people and 3,671 persons are still missing. This tragic event left a lot of lessons to be learned for social workers around the world. The purpose of this presentation is to describe what happened and what was needed at the time from case study of earthquake/tsunami victim. This presentation also discusses the role of social workers in disaster preparation.

Purpose of Study

In this presentation, I will follow the case of one tsunami survivor.

And from his experience, I discusses the role of social workers in disaster preparation.

Purpose of Study

Interview was conducted to earthquake/tsunami survivor to describe what happened at the time. Interviews were also conducted to social workers, NGO/NPOs, police officer, student volunteers, and city government officials working for disaster recovery to analysis in more multifaceted perspectives. These interviews point out confusion and problems right after the earthquake and tsunami.

Research Method

Outline of The Japan Earthquake &

Tsunami

A Magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Japan on March 11, 2011 at 14:46.

15,863 death 2,949 missing person

Many have died because of Tsunami and not by the earthquake itself

Outline of The Japan Earthquake & Tsunami

Case study of Tsunami survivor

25 year old young man working in a drug store in Yamada, Iwate

The day and the next day of his experience

A Magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Japan on March 11, 2011

At the time , himself, several customers and store manager were in the store.

Earthquake was extremely hard and long. It continue for almost five minutes.

After the earthquake, products on the shelf fells and scattered on the floor but lucky everybody inside the shop was safe

After sending out customers outside, he and store manager began to clean up the floor.

Suddenly the siren calls and city announcement says “Tsunami warning was issued, please evacuate to high ground as soon as possible”

After the siren and announcement, they close the shop and move to the high ground even though they didn’t expect that tsunami will really come

First, they thought to use the car to move but road was very jam so they walk to the high ground

After they reached to the high ground, when he look back the ocean. he was amazed because Seabed can be

seen because of the ebb And right next moment, his store, houses,

building, city, everything was swallowed up by tsunami.

After the tsunami, they talked and decided to move to the middle school where set to be assembly point/refuge/shelter in the case of emergency.

Of course they had option going back to store and check the damage but they didn’t do that.

Some of the people who were in the same place go back to the city to see their houses.

But he and store manager decide to move to middle school.

Because aftershock was still very frequently occurs.

On the way to the middle school, again he heard the sound and he look back and he saw the 2nd wave coming and was swallowed up the city once again including the high ground where they were just there on a moment ago.

And not only that, tsunami is coming against them

So they run and run. And this was the moment that he convinced he can not go back to daily life.

On the way to middle school, he though

middle school is in chaos but it was not After they reached the middle school, he

was surprised because most of the people are under in order and discipline.

Of course middle school was quite busy because many people came and some of them got quite injured

Some of people got panic Some of them are shocked

But there was no quarrel and most of the people are under in order and discipline.

and some of them are doing their tasks e.g. Distributing Blanket, food, guide new people who came, etc

It is because of neighborhood association was working very effectively in the shelter

In Japan, we have A neighborhood association in each school district

Most of the community residents are taking part of this neighborhood association especially in the countryside.

Not only the neighborhood association, In the same district we have some affiliate groups of neighborhood association like children, youth, woman, elderly ,Volunteer fire department, PTA etc

A neighborhood/residents’ association (Jichikai or Chounaikai)

In the middle school (set to be shelter), all these groups were doing their tasks under the instruction of chair of neighborhood association.

This is set to be in the case of emergency

He and store manager guided to middle school gym.

Middle schools gym was very dirty and smelly and still it was winter season so it was very cold

stove was brought but didn’t work well it was to small to warm whole floor

Blanket was distributed to the elderly and children but number was not enough

Its getting colder and colder especially after the sunset.

even though it was night time, some how the out side was very bright

Fire had occur in the city After the reviewing the situation by the

board of neighborhood association They decided to close the middle school and

move to high school where located more suburb area even though it was already mid night

So everybody asked to move to high school

After the decision, every body in middle school walk to the high school.

On the way, the road was steep and dark and very cold and smelly so it was very tough walk

youth support elderly and children. It was very long and tough walk but finally

they reached to the high school

High school’s gym was also very clouded, smelly and dirty

He sit in a small place and spent the night shivering.

Next morning, people cook the rice and made onigiri, the breakfast

rice ball, is a Japanese food made from white rice formed into triangular or oval shapes and often wrapped in nori (seaweed)

In high school also the people was in order. Middle school and high school students

worked very well under the direction of their teachers.

Teachers were under the direction of neighborhood association

At this time there are many information and rumors about what has happened and the situation of their cities and towns.

Every body was really anxiety because they didn’t now what was really happened and what is going to be happen next.

First day it was OK because they were busy. But second day, they began to worry about

their future.

In high school there was recruitment of volunteers by the neighborhood association.

And he joined the volunteer The volunteer’s task in shelter was

registration all the people in the high school , and make roster.

Registration was to check the people who newly come and correspondence to the people’s complain like hunger or illness.

and 2nd day is over

So this is what has happened in first two days.

From his case we can learn these things.

Because of the neighborhood association, people were in order and no big confession.

the board of neighborhood association control each affiliate groups in the community and work effectively in shelter.

Good point

Water and food Information Cell phone can not be used Radio is insufficient People are worried and fear because they didn’t

now what is happened and what is going to be happen next.

So if we had something like Seattleite TV or big screen view that we can watch, people feel more relief.

To work on TV or other equipments, we need emergency power

Things needed in shelter

Conclusion

Form the neighborhood association and chose community leader

Organize affiliate community groups Secure shelter Prepare food, water, emergency power and

something like satellite TV in shelter Internet access (if possible)

If we can prepare all these in advance, situation will be much better than doing nothing

social worker should prepare following things in the case of emergency

And above all, disaster will badly affect person’s physical and mental condition.

To cope with disaster, first of all, social worker must be tough and strong in both physically and mentally.

Can you wake up for three straight days? Can you run/walk long distance without any food or water?

In the case of disaster, you are also victims. But even though you are victim, you have to do your work as social worker.

So all the social workers are you tough enough to cope all these?

if you are not please go to gym or start jogging and get in shape.

If you want to prepare for your mental toughness, I recommend you to start Zen

Thank you for your attention

最後に、ソーシャルワーカーは体を鍛えておいてください。ジョギングなどを普段からしておいた方がよいでしょう。

いざというときに、動けない、歩けないではお話になりません。

Right after Tsunami, He close his shop with Shop Manager

They move to a high ground and they watch Tsunami destroys the city and their shop.

They moved to middle school because this middle school was set as assembly point or evacuation area in case of emergency

After they moved to middle school, he was surprised.

Because everything was in order under a residents‘ association

Of corse it was quite busy because many people came and some of them got quite enjured

Some of people got panic Some of them are shocked

But there was no quarral and many of people are doing their task eg. Blanket, food,

1) Purpose of Study A Magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Japan on

March 11, 2011 at 14:46:18 (Japan Standard Time). Registering as the most powerful earthquake to hit Japan on record and as known as once in thousand years catastrophe. The earthquake churned up a devastating tsunami that swept over cities and farmland along the northern part of Japan. Walls of water whisked away houses and cars as terrified residents fled the coast. The earthquake has killed at least 15,833 people and 3,671 persons are still missing. This tragic event left a lot of lessons to be learned for social workers around the world. The purpose of this presentation is to describe what happened and what was needed at the time from case study of earthquake/tsunami victim. This presentation also discusses the role of social workers in disaster preparation.

2) Method Interview was conducted to

earthquake/tsunami victim to describe what happened at the time. Interviews were also conducted to social workers, NGO/NPOs, police officer, student volunteers, and city government officials working for disaster recovery to analysis in more multifaceted perspectives. These interviews point out confusion and problems right after the earthquake and tsunami.

3) Conclusion From the case study, following results were obtained for

the role of social workers in disaster preparation. a. Ensuring evacuation center and known to all local

citizens. b. Secure communications (except for telephone and

internet) in evacuation center. c. Prepare systematic structure in evacuation center

ex. nurture community leader to be head in evacuation center.

d. Disaster will badly affect person’s physical and mental condition. To cope with disaster, first of all, social worker needs to be tough and strong in both physically and mentally. All the social workers, please get in shape.

自治会 a residents‘ association