By David Walton
Typhoon Hagibis was the most powerful typhoon to hit Japan in decades. The storm’s ferocity was extraordinary, and the level of destruction immense. At least 78 people have been killed, and more than 230,000 evacuated.
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Japanese intentions to rebuild infrastructure quickly are supported by a ¥500 billion (US$4.6 billion) fund to support disaster relief, and the promise by the Abe government of more money, if required. Areas badly affected in Fukushima and Miyagi Prefectures require considerable support and rapid rebuilding of infrastructure to be ready for flow-on Olympic tourism. Another point to note from the floods is that aging infrastructure across Japan, especially provided by private companies such as TEPCO, is vulnerable and will be more so over time as budgets for maintenance are constrained.
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The lack of coordination and vital information during the “triple disasters” has led to major re-evaluation of disaster planning. Notably, coordination of government agencies during the typhoon was highly efficient, and the agencies did a very good job ensuring smooth evacuations of people facing the full force of the typhoon and restoring power and other essential services afterwards. Importantly, the Japanese Bureau of meteorology has a clear and easy-to-use website in English to assist visitors.
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Throughout the highs and lows of disasters, Japanese people have retained extraordinary levels of “community spirit” to deal with a crisis. This spirit, as well as the expectation of strong government support and assistance, is an important factor in the restoration of areas affected by the typhoon.
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