Three Years After a Mega-disaster: Recovery Policies, Programs and Implementation After the Great East Japan Earthquake - Post-Tsunami Hazard: Reconstruction and Restoration - page 41

Wooden temporary housing. The use of timber to construct high quality temporary
housing is another housing innovation. There are examples of wooden temporary
housing in Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures, and the largest amount has been used in
Fukushima Prefecture. Before the GEJE, Fukushima Prefecture already had an
organization promoting the use of local timber materials. After the GEJE, Fukushima
Prefecture took a proactive role in providing wooden temporary housing. After the
prefab association stated they could only provide 10,000 of the 14,000 needed units,
Fukushima Prefecture decided to build the remaining 4,000 units (later increased to
6,000 units) using timber construction. In Fukushima Prefecture, where residents
will be displaced longer because of the radiation issues, wooden temporary housing
also can provide a more comfortable living environment over the long-term.
Multi-story temporary housing in Onagawa. Three-story temporary housing
made from shipping containers in Onagawa Town is another new type of project in
Japan. Temporary housing regulations do not require single story construction, but
it is the typical style because of the ease of construction and reduced cost. Although
it is more expensive, multi-story temporary housing is one solution for limited land
areas like much of the coastal areas in the Tohoku region. Most of Onagawa Town
was inundated by the tsunami and many residents had to move to temporary housing
in other towns. As residents from the multi-story container temporary housing
move into recently completed public housing, vacancies in the container temporary
housing are quickly fi lled by residents who have been living outside Onagawa and
want to return.
Considering social aspects in planning for temporary housing. With the awareness
to provide psycho-social care, design efforts to improve livability took place in
many temporary housing settlements and included aspects of both physical design
and social networks. Through design efforts, meeting and community spaces were
built along with each temporary housing settlement based upon a minimum number
of units. Additionally, many small scale design activities, including the addition of
porches, outdoor benches and other furniture, were introduced to improve the living
conditions in temporary housing settlements (Archi Aid 2014 ; Public Shelter 2014 ).
With support from local governments, NGOs, or private foundations, various
programs have provided on-site staff to check on residents and coordinate other
social networking events and services at temporary housing settlements. Efforts have
been made to reduce solitary deaths, and to address the special needs of vulnerable
and elderly residents.

3.3.3 Displaced Population in the Third Recovery Phase

While various reconstruction projects are underway to complete the preparation of
land for new housing in collective relocation and land raising areas, life in small and
cramped temporary housing is uncomfortable for many displaced people. There have
been almost 100 cases of solitary death among the elderly in temporary housing
settlements after the GEJE, even with dedicated efforts to improve the quality of
life and regularly check on residents (Yomiuri Shinbun 2014 ).