EXCLUSIVE: 60 Pct of Tsunami Evacuation Sites Have No Stockpiles: Survey

Tokyo, Nov. 30 (Jiji Press)–About 60 pct of designated emergency evacuation sites in areas expected to be damaged by tsunami do not have stockpiles, a survey by Japan’s Cabinet Office showed Sunday. The rate rose to about 80 pct when limited to outdoor evacuation sites. The Cabinet Office is urging local governments to secure sufficient stockpiles and calling on households to advance their own preparations. The survey was conducted in October and November after it came to light that the provision of drinking water and heatstroke countermeasures were not sufficient at emergency evacuation sites in Japan at the time of the tsunami caused by an earthquake near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula in July. It covered 40 prefectures and 678 municipalities, with 28 prefectures and 424 municipalities responding about a total of 21,005 evacuation sites. When asked whether food, drinking water, portable toilets and other supplies had been stockpiled at tsunami evacuation sites, the local governments answered yes for 25 pct of the sites and no for 61 pct. When limited to outdoor evacuation sites such as tsunami evacuation towers and upland squares, 78 pct did not have such stockpiles. Evacuation sites without air conditioning equipment accounted for 53 pct. Of outdoor evacuation sites, 88 pct had no sunshades such as tents. Emergency evacuation sites for temporary shelter from imminent danger during disasters are designated by municipalities for each type of disaster. There are around 40,000 tsunami evacuation sites nationwide. Compared with designated evacuation shelters, which are intended for longer stays, delays in stockpiling and shortages of outdoor storage spaces are noticeable at emergency evacuation sites, so the Cabinet Office is urging municipalities to strengthen measures for improvement. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]