The nursing home “La Nasica Miho no Matsubara,” located about 800m from the coast in Shimizu Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture, is demonstrating new possibilities for tsunami countermeasures. In 2023, this facility installed five 25-person life rafts on its roof to prepare for a potential 10m-class tsunami that exceeds current projections. This initiative is noteworthy as an innovative approach to tsunami evacuation.
Utilization of LSA Code Compliant Products
The life rafts adopted by “La Nasica Miho no Matsubara” comply with the LSA Code (Life-Saving Appliance Code). The LSA Code is an international standard for safety of life at sea, and products compliant with this code possess high safety and reliability. Applying such marine safety technology to land-based tsunami countermeasures may provide more effective evacuation means.
Cooperation Between Community and Facility
This nursing home is also designated as a city tsunami evacuation building, anticipating the evacuation of not only its 50 residents but also local community members. By conducting annual evacuation drills that include local residents, they are strengthening cooperation for emergencies. A facility representative stated, “It’s difficult for staff alone to evacuate residents to upper floors. We hope to evacuate cooperatively with the community,” emphasizing the importance of community-wide efforts.
Importance of Individual Evacuation Plans
In Shizuoka Prefecture, the development of individual evacuation plans for those requiring support is not progressing as needed. As of April 2024, out of about 420,000 people listed in the prefecture’s support-required persons registry, only about 25,000 have completed plans. To improve this situation, Fuji City has developed its own disaster prevention app with a function to match supporters with those needing support after a disaster occurs.
Challenges of Welfare Evacuation Centers
Establishing “welfare evacuation centers” to prevent disaster-related deaths during long-term evacuation is another important issue. As of fiscal year 2023, 792 facilities in Shizuoka Prefecture are designated as welfare evacuation centers, but the burden on accepting facilities is increasing. While public facilities and elderly care facilities with barrier-free equipment are primary targets, challenges include differing care needs based on disability types and limitations in stockpiling supplies.
Need for New Evacuation Strategies
Associate Professor Katsuyuki Ehara of Shizuoka Prefectural University Junior College emphasizes, “Community cooperation is essential for evacuating those needing support.” He also states, “Administrative bodies should not just aim to designate welfare evacuation centers, but need to support increasing effectiveness through community-involved drills.”
Importance of a Comprehensive Approach
Tsunami countermeasures require approaches from both hardware and software aspects. The case of “La Nasica Miho no Matsubara” demonstrates an innovative method of introducing new evacuation means while utilizing existing buildings. Simultaneously, software initiatives such as developing individual evacuation plans and strengthening community cooperation are indispensable.
Future Prospects
The following points are crucial for the evolution of tsunami countermeasures:
- Further utilization and research of LSA Code compliant products
- Strengthening cooperation between communities and facilities, and conducting regular drills
- Developing individual evacuation plans and support systems utilizing technology
- Enhancing functions and improving operational systems of welfare evacuation centers
- Continuous updating of evacuation plans based on the latest tsunami simulations
The Shizuoka case provides important insights towards realizing “a world where no one dies from tsunamis.” Innovative measures tailored to regional characteristics and community-wide efforts will lead to more effective tsunami countermeasures. Moving forward, it is necessary to continue promoting comprehensive tsunami countermeasures while actively incorporating new technologies and knowledge.
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