Lessons from Japan’s disaster

Last of two parts

“I wish that the people of your country could live normally and peacefully as early as possible by restoring all the damage caused by Supertyphoon Haiyan [Yolanda].” These are kind words spoken by our Japanese coordinator in a recent METI-sponsored Asean workshop on energy efficiency in buildings that I attended in Tokyo in December 2013.

Emergency response

As mentioned in my previous article, the Japanese government adopted three emergency response priorities to the earthquake and tsunami. The first was to obtain information on the full extent of the disaster using helicopters within hours after the calamity. The second was to establish highly efficient rescue routes and mobilize local contractors based on prior agreements in the event of a disaster. The third priority was support from operable local government units in coordination with disaster relief agencies.

They established 11 routes that were opened the following day. Swift road-clearing operations to create rescue routes helped expand support activities. After 15 routes were opened, gross goods movement increased by 50 percent and traffic volume more than doubled.

The road-clearing teams had rechargeable satellite phones which were distributed to local governments. Eventually, vehicles were outfitted with satellite communications and disaster operations functions.

The government was able to provide temporary facilities and other basic necessities. In three days, the government had shipped goods in response to 90 percent of those requests.

Once these emergency response priorities were established, a three-part action plan was set up, this time to handle post-disaster reconstruction.

Post-disaster reconstruction aims at raising the standard of living higher than what existed before the disaster. This is what the Japanese government is accomplishing.

3-part action plan

Top on the list was reviving the economic activity in the area. This was the most urgent part to ensure future prosperity and stability. It involved massive financial assistance from government to create jobs and  programs for reconstruction, revitalize the economy and deal with demographic change.

Past experiences of other countries show that the people in disaster areas are very concerned with the restoration of the economic structure. Their main concern is restoring their source of livelihood, more than assistance in the construction of new houses.

The second action plan was the massive reconstruction effort needed to rebuild the disaster-affected areas and to create a new and better community.  Reconstruction involves not only building shelters but also restoring the social and cultural, along with the economic, structures to ensure the sustainability of the community. Japan’s 10-year reconstruction plan’s enviable mantra is “in collective wisdom we move as one.” People in affected areas are central in the policy-making efforts for reconstruction.

The Japanese are nostalgic for their old and traditional wooden homes; some are proposing to use the warm material of wood that can be sourced locally and fabricated quickly for temporary shelter.  The wooden components can be reused in regular housing construction.

Some sectors reject the concept of temporary housing because they have a way of becoming permanent shelters.

The third action plan is crisis management. This entails a comprehensive program for improvement and fortifying of infrastructure and public facilities in the entire country. Japan is launching a massive investment aimed at restoring and strengthening highways, bridges and schools.

Vital infrastructure like major roads and rail networks has been quickly restored. Important public services have been reestablished. Ninety percent of the 184 hospitals affected have resumed services, while 77 percent of the 2,325 schools resumed classes. The number of tourists has grown by 35 percent in 2012 from 2011.

Building disaster-resilient towns are  incorporating advanced technologies and new methods for sustainable and energy-efficient homes. Relocation of residential areas to safe places and higher ground, restoration of major roads and rail networks has been done. Businesses damaged in the earthquake, including automobile companies, are now back on track to compete globally.

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