Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 3
Three Years After a Mega-disaster: Recovery
Policies, Programs and Implementation After
the Great East Japan Earthquake
Kanako Iuchi , Elizabeth Maly , and Laurie Johnson
Abstract
Since March 11 2011, the national government of Japan has invested
signifi cant resources to aid recovery in the Tohoku region, devastated by the Great
East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) and tsunami. Thus far, 25 trillion yen (approximately
US$ 250 billion) has been committed, a 10-year national Reconstruction Agency
has been established to guide the process, and many planning policies and rebuild-
ing programs have been developed and implemented. During this time, four
Prefectures and 81 local governments have also crafted recovery plans, and identi-
fi ed national rebuilding programs for use in implementing their plans. The fi rst sites
for permanent relocated settlements have been completed, and some residents have
already moved into permanent disaster recovery public housing. At the same time,
approximately 267,000 people are still displaced and living in temporary housing as
of March 2014.
This chapter provides an overview of policies and programs for rebuilding from
the GEJE that have a strong emphasis on reducing risk for future tsunamis, along
with the awareness of the need for both physical and non-physical aspects of disas-
ter mitigation. Focus is given to describing policies and programs for land use,
temporary housing and the current conditions of disaster survivors in regaining sta-
bility in their lives. Also, the progress of program implementation and livelihood
rebuilding in communities is clarifi ed, to explain the unprecedented challenges and
emerging opportunities that affected localities and communities are experiencing
due to the unique nature of the tsunami impacts.
Keywords
Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Rebuilding policies and
programs Temporary and permanent housing Land use and rebuilding for risk
reduction
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