Strategies to Mitigate Earthquake Impacts in Japan (Term Paper Sample)

Strategies to Mitigate Earthquake Impacts in Japan
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Abstract
Japan, owing to its position on the planet, is susceptible to earthquakes. In 2011, the country experienced one of the worst earthquakes in history, which resulted in the death and displacement of many people. In this paper, mitigation measures for minimizing the effects of an earthquake are examined. The first measure is the implementation of early warning systems. Such systems rely on various technologies to alert individuals and authorities regarding an impending earthquake. The information acquired from these systems can be used by individuals to protect themselves and by authorities to respond effectively. The second strategy entails conducting awareness and educational programs. It is important that such programs reach all the intended audiences, such as children, the media, professionals, and other organizations. Through the awareness initiatives, individuals can be taught about the signs of earthquakes and ways of protecting themselves. In particular, the media should be capable of partnering with authorities to disseminate information quickly and consistently and in an efficient manner during disasters. Thirdly, the mitigation process should encompass risk identification, zoning, and mapping. Specifically, people should be discouraged from residing in areas that are vulnerable to earthquakes. Lastly, the government should be involved in capacity building by developing and strengthening the capability of communities to withstand the effects of earthquakes. In particular, it is important to construct buildings and critical infrastructures that can withstand them.
Key terms: Earthquake, early warning systems, zoning, mapping, and capacity building
Strategies to Mitigate Earthquake Impacts in Japan
Earth is an active planet that is composed of a number of plates that move, which results in changes to the shape of the surface. The islands that constitute Japan are located between the Philippine, Pacific, and Eurasian plates, and, as the Pacific plate moves, pressure is generated and then is relieved as an earthquake (Mimura, Yasuhara, Kawagoe, Yokoki, & Kazama, 2011). On the 11th of March, 2011, Japan experienced one of the most devastating earthquakes to ever occur in the country. According to Mimura et al. (2011), it took place off the coast of Tohoku and resulted in an enormous tsunami, which caused massive damage to property and infrastructure and led to human suffering. In the aftermath of the disaster, over twenty-four thousand people were either dead or missing, and another three hundred and fifty thousand were displaced (Mimura et al., 2011). The tsunami also caused serious accidents at the Fukushima power plant. The map below depicts the intensity of the 2011 earthquake.
Map 1: Map showing the intensity of the 2011 Japan earthquake (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, n.d.).
Earthquakes are hazardous to the environment and to human life. In particular, they lead to the loss of life and property as it was witnessed in Japan. Evidently, rebuilding communities is not only expensive but also takes time. Earthquakes lead to the destruction of critical infrastructure, such as highways, railways, roads, and airports, which makes the response difficult. Communication systems, including cables, are often disrupted, which makes it impossible to communicate with those affected and supply relief services (Parwanto & Oyama, 2015). While the government and other relevant organizations are limited concerning the prevention of earthquakes, they have a critical role in mitigating their effect. Generally, mitigation refers to the activities that minimize the impact of disasters.
Early Warning Systems
One strategy for mitigating earthquakes in Japan is the implementation of early warning systems. Such systems rely on communication technology and earthquake science to alert individuals and authorities about the time when the shaking waves that accompany an earthquake are expected to arrive at a given location (Angermann, Guenther, & Wendlandt, 2010). It is important to differentiate them from prediction systems that rely on a combination of facts and assumptions in an attempt to forecast the likelihood of a disaster. As the tectonic plates move, they produce waves that are sensed by the sensors in an information center. The severity of these waves is determined, and notifications are sent out to notify people and responders.
Currently, there are two approaches towards early warning systems in the management of earthquakes. According to Kanamori (2005), in the first method, which is the regional warning system, conventional seismological techniques are utilized to locate an earthquake and determine its magnitude as well as the ground motion in other areas. The regional approach is more reliable. However, it cannot be utilized for sites located at short distances and takes a long time to be implemented. The second approach is referred to as the on-site (site-specific) warning system; in it, the observations of a given site of the start of the ground motion are used in predicting the consequent ground motion at that site. The approach does not attempt to locate and approximate the event’s magnitude (Kanamori, 2005). Although the second approach is considerably unreliable, it is often advantageous in that it could be implemented quickly and, therefore, be able to provide warning information at short distances. The site-specific method has been utilized in countries such as Taiwan and Japan.
Earthquake warning systems produce information that can be used for effective damage mitigation. To start with, individuals in homes and places of work can take measures to protect themselves, such as getting under tables and moving away from hazards like dangerous machinery and chemicals. Authorities can also use the information to protect or evacuate clean-up personnel who are usually deployed after an earthquake to work on unsteady debris. Considering that tsunamis are made up of a number of earthquakes, clean-up personnel are susceptible to further harm. Institutions can utilize the information to stop or slow down trains, stop cars from using the freeway, and abort airplane landings. According to Kanamori (2005), Japan has developed a system that stops high-speed trains automatically once the warning is given. In industries, managers can initiate the process of shutting them down to prevent failures and other adverse consequences. For instance, nuclear power plants could be shut down to reduce their negative consequences on people and the environment. According to Kanamori (2005), early warning systems can lead to the creation of infrastructure that can use the information to respond accordingly to an earthquake. Today, buildings with semi-active control systems, which are being developed in Japan, have the capability of changing their mechanical features in a few seconds to withstand the motion associated with earthquakes (Kanamori, 2005). However, it is important that these systems are developed with the capability of dealing with missed events and false alarms.
Awareness and Education
Part of the mitigation process entails implementing awareness and educational programs targeting a wide range of audience as they are essential in minimizing property damages, personal injuries, and deaths. Apart from being aware of the natural disasters that could occur in their communities and places of work, people should possess the knowledge regarding what to do before, during, and after the hazard. Equally important, the media and government officials should be able to respond efficiently and effectively (Kitagawa & Hiraishi, 2004). Therefore, the target of the awareness and education program should go beyond the likely victims to include agencies and individuals that play a critical role in the aftermath of the emergency. For example, community organizations should be aware of the procedures to follow during a crisis as well as the channels and techniques of communicating with the public and other stakeholders. It is imperative to ensure that the awareness programs reach vulnerable populations, such as children, people with disabilities, individuals with language problems, and the elderly. In fact, in the case of Japan and with the consideration of its vulnerability to earthquakes, the training and education programs should be made a national priority.
At school, learners should be taught about disaster warnings, preparedness, and safety. It is important that this educational content is introduced to learners as young as those in kindergarten. According to Foster (2011), awareness programs targeting young people have already been initiated in Japan. In particular, the country targets every child to be familiar with earthquake drills. For example, when an alarm is sounded, children are expected to retreat under tables and desks. Foster (2011) reports that these drills take place on a monthly basis. The awareness programs also include training regarding fire management. According to Foster (2011), the training seems to be working as during the 2011 earthquake, children were seen maintaining calmness and keeping themselves safe. Overall, awareness initiatives are critical as they minimize the impact of emergencies and enhance the pace of recovery.
The awareness and education programs should also be extended to homes, communities, workplaces, public officials, professionals, and the media. At home, people should be provided with basic information regarding earthquakes and emergency supplies and equipment. Families also ought to be taught about the precautions they can take. Information targeting families can be disseminated through the media, posters, and brochures. At the community level, schools, community organizations, hospitals, and religious places sh...