1995 and 2011 Japan Earthquakes and Tsunami Case Study
Over the years, Japan has suffered from various types of natural disasters, in particular, earthquakes and tsunamis. This case study, documents the 1995 Kobe earthquake and the 2011 earthquake and tsunami near Sendai. I present a brief background, along with the similarities and differences between the focusing events. Moreover, I discuss the hazards and destructive consequences, emergency response and volunteerism, political impact, and earthquake prevention strategies of each event. Finally, I discuss steps emergency managers could take to mitigate the effects of another earthquake of these magnitudes in densely populated areas like Japan.
Background
On January 17, 1995, the 7.2 magnitude …show more content…
In response, over one million volunteers stepped up to assist in searches, and debris clean up. The citizens likely stepped up to offer assistance because they knew that the government could not do it alone, and it would take the whole community to rebuild these two areas. Furthermore, volunteerism in Japan paved the way for the 1998 Law to Promote Specific Non-Profit Activities, which made it easier for the country to manage small-scale non-profit organizations. Since the evolution of volunteerism, Japan has seen an increase in resiliency in Japan in terms of strengthening social networks and community cohesion at a local …show more content…
However, the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant crisis created a delay in decision making, due to the lack of trust amongst the political leadership and bureaucracy. As a result, the nuclear power plant could not determine the proper steps to take to control a nuclear meltdown. The earthquake and tsunami forced the government and its ministries to develop new regulations and monitoring of nuclear plants. The government still had to convince the citizens that everything was under control, and their health and well-being was the number one priority. Therefore, the government had to figure out a long-term strategy that clarifies the importance of nuclear power in Japan’s future in
Over the years, Japan has suffered from various types of natural disasters, in particular, earthquakes and tsunamis. This case study, documents the 1995 Kobe earthquake and the 2011 earthquake and tsunami near Sendai. I present a brief background, along with the similarities and differences between the focusing events. Moreover, I discuss the hazards and destructive consequences, emergency response and volunteerism, political impact, and earthquake prevention strategies of each event. Finally, I discuss steps emergency managers could take to mitigate the effects of another earthquake of these magnitudes in densely populated areas like Japan.
Background
On January 17, 1995, the 7.2 magnitude …show more content…
In response, over one million volunteers stepped up to assist in searches, and debris clean up. The citizens likely stepped up to offer assistance because they knew that the government could not do it alone, and it would take the whole community to rebuild these two areas. Furthermore, volunteerism in Japan paved the way for the 1998 Law to Promote Specific Non-Profit Activities, which made it easier for the country to manage small-scale non-profit organizations. Since the evolution of volunteerism, Japan has seen an increase in resiliency in Japan in terms of strengthening social networks and community cohesion at a local …show more content…
However, the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant crisis created a delay in decision making, due to the lack of trust amongst the political leadership and bureaucracy. As a result, the nuclear power plant could not determine the proper steps to take to control a nuclear meltdown. The earthquake and tsunami forced the government and its ministries to develop new regulations and monitoring of nuclear plants. The government still had to convince the citizens that everything was under control, and their health and well-being was the number one priority. Therefore, the government had to figure out a long-term strategy that clarifies the importance of nuclear power in Japan’s future in