Matsuyama City method of disaster prevention “Developing disaster prevention leaders for all generations – seamlessly from elementary school students to the elderly”
The ``Establishment of the Matsuyama City Disaster Prevention Education Promotion Council'' started in May 2019, and it is continuing to work on developing and fostering disaster prevention leaders in Matsuyama City, including within industry, government, academia, and citizens.
Description
Based on the "Cooperative Agreement on Disaster Prevention Education" concluded in March 2019 between Matsuyama City, Ehime University, and the University of Tokyo, in order to protect as many lives as possible from disasters, we will continue to provide disaster prevention education starting from elementary school. Recognizing that an environment in which disaster prevention education can be promoted is important and that disaster prevention education can be promoted in various occupations and generations, including the elderly, we will foster disaster prevention leaders who seamlessly range from elementary school students to the elderly .
Targets selected by the Matsuyama City Disaster Prevention Education Promotion Council:
1. Elementary school students,
2. Junior high school students,
3. High school students,
4. University students,
5. Teachers,
6. Corporate employees,
7. Welfare personnel,
8. Disaster prevention experts,
9. Voluntary disaster prevention organizations,
10. Foreigners in 10 categories,
The disaster prevention education program being promoted is being researched and developed at Ehime University's Matsuyama Disaster Prevention Leader Development Center .
The Matsuyama City Disaster Prevention Education Promotion Council functions as the ``decision-making body,'' and the Matsuyama Disaster Prevention Leader Development Center functions as the ``practical organization,'' establishing an evaluation and implementation cycle for disaster prevention education programs.
Did the Sendai Framework change or contribute to changes in your activities/organization? If so, how?
Through joining CITYNET and MCR2030 (Matsuyama City joined MCR2030 in 2023), we became aware of the initiatives and indicators of the Sendai Framework.
What led you to make this commitment/initiative?
What was your position before making this Voluntary Commitment / prior to the Sendai Framework?
A major trigger was the worst flood damage caused by the Western Japan heavy rain disaster that occurred in July 2018.
There were also casualties due to the delay in evacuating . In order to prevent the same tragedy from happening again , starting in 2019 we have decided to start creating a system for ``disaster prevention education for all generations,'' in which everyone from elementary school students to the elderly can receive disaster prevention education without interruption .
Prior to this disaster, in 1995, due to the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, which killed approximately 6,500 people, the NPO Japan Disaster Prevention Association was established , and based on the principles of "self-help," "mutual assistance," and "cooperation," disaster prevention a system for training ``disaster prevention officers'', certified by the Japan Disaster Prevention Association, has been established. (Currently, there are over 260,000 disaster prevention specialists nationwide)
