Japan is a country that often experiences natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and typhoons, and the nation has been working toward the creation of a system for disaster management. September 1 is designated Disaster Prevention Day, and evacuation and other drills are held all across Japan on this day every year. Much of the activity recently has been colored with the memory of the 1995 Hanshin-Awaji Great Earthquake, in which about 6,000 people lost their lives.

The reason September 1 was selected to be Disaster Prevention Day is that it is the anniversary of the worst natural disaster ever to hit Japan. The Great Kanto Earthquake struck the Tokyo area on September 1, 1923, resulting in 60,420 dead and 36,634 missing persons. Between 1945 - the year World War II ended - and 1960 there were five separate natural disasters in which at least 3,000 people lost their lives. From 1960 on, however, there were no large-scale disasters until the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995. Awareness of disasters, which had dropped off, began to rebound.

New System to Improve Reaction Time
Following the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, the government created something called the Disaster Information System. The government was unable to obtain information on the damage in the immediate aftermath of that quake, and efforts to prevent the disaster from spreading and to assist victims were greatly delayed. The new system was created after taking that experience into consideration.

This new system is composed of two subsystems, one of which is called the Early Estimation System, which is used to calculate the scale of the damage from an earthquake immediately after it strikes using the limited information available. Formulating such an estimate took at least several hours under the previous system, but the task can be completed in just 30 minutes using the new Disaster Information System. Estimates will be provided to the central government and related organizations, local governments, and crucial businesses like utility companies. This will allow for a speedy response in the event that disaster strikes.

The other subsystem is called the Emergency Measure Support System, and it keeps a database of information on major infrastructure like roads and railways and disaster-related facilities, such as fire stations and hospitals. In the event of a disaster, information on damage and corresponding emergency measures is displayed on a map and supplied via a related organization. It is now possible to make quick judgments concerning where resources should be directed.

Training Includes Pets
Every year on September 1, exercises are conducted in order to prepare for a major disaster. Activities include training to sandbag levees that may break, to rescue isolated survivors by helicopter, and to provide emergency medical assistance to the injured. This year, however, there were a number of relatively unusual training exercises, one of which involved gathering pets.

When disaster strikes and people must go to designated evacuation centers, such as schools, many bring along their beloved pet dogs and cats. By barking, biting people, and relieving themselves inside the shelter, though, these pets can inflame the already frayed nerves of the people inside. In order to keep this from happening, the ward office in Tokyo's Nerima Ward this year began training for gathering pets, specifically dogs. Thirty-six dogs took part and were taught by a professional trainer. The purpose of the training was to have even the worst-behaved dog be able to follow the commands of its owner, and the event was successful in that regard.

Nerima Ward also carried out a training exercise aimed at delivering important goods by motorcycle. In the aftermath of the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, when the trains stopped running and the roads were clogged with traffic, it became apparent that bicycles and motorcycles are the most effective mode of transport in such a situation. At the time of the 1995 temblor, many volunteers lent a helping hand and rode their bicycles and motorcycles to help others. But in Nerima Ward this year, employees of motorcycle delivery services took part and transported medical supplies from a stock center to medical facilities. The Nerima Ward Office also conducted an exercise that made use of camera-equipped mobile phones. The training was photographed at all the different locations, and the photos were relayed to a headquarters. This was an experiment in using a new method to collect and disseminate information in the event of a disaster.

International Cooperation
The city of Kobe was the site of the worst damage during the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, and it is there that the Asian Disaster Reduction Center was established. Its purpose is to lessen the damage resulting from natural disasters around the world by coordinating international action. It presently has 24 member states, including, China, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and Thailand. The center promotes the sharing of information and the training of personnel. Asia is the area of the world that has the most natural disasters, so the center has a very large role to play.