Learning from disaster simulation drills in Japan
This report introduces Japanese disaster simulation drills as a model to help other countries plan and implement disaster simulation drill exercises. Rather than provide a manual for planning a simulation drill, this report aims to introduce a menu of possible activities. The target audience of the report includes: national Disaster Risk Management (DRM) agencies, local governments, utility corporations, and NGO/Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that plan to organize disaster simulation drills.
This guideline provides an overview of the institutional and legislative frameworks for disaster management which underpin the organization of disaster simulation drills in Japan. The document introduces disaster simulation drills conducted by various national and community level organizations and a number of other tools for raising residents’ disaster awareness and preparedness.
The report captures a number of key lessons, good practices, and information about the following actions that Japan has taken to reduce disaster risk:
- Developed and enhanced institutional and policy frameworks to involve key stakeholders and secure high-level support for simulation activities;
- Planned the drills carefully and ensured that they are carried out by different agencies at national and sub-national levels, and that local communities are actively engaged;
- Organized frequent drills to systematically enhance disaster-response abilities.
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