Database Construction of Newspaper Article about Evacuation Behavior from Tsunami in the Great East Japan Earthquake

Transcription

1 Database Construction of Newspaper Article about Evacuation Behavior from Tsunami in the Great East Japan Earthquake Sachiko OHNO 1, Akiyoshi TAKAGI 2, Fumitaka KURAUCHI 3, Yoshifumi DEMURA 4,and Takanori OHSAKI 5 1 Graduate student., Gifu University p312107@edu.gifu-u.ac.jp 2 Professor. of Civil Eng., Gifu University a_takagi@gifu-u.ac.jp 3 Associate Professor. of Civil Eng., Gifu University kurauchii@gifu-u.ac.jp 4 Associate Professor. of Civil Eng., Gifu University demu@gifu-u.ac.jp 5 Undergrade student, Gifu University n @edu.gifu-u.ac.jp An extremely severe earthquake and tsunami struck the Tohoku district on March 11, 2011 and it caused very serious damage to Japan. In order to propose appropriate evacuation behavior in the event of disaster, it is necessary to grasp how the resident evacuated in the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami. We collected several newspaper articles regarding tsunami caused by earthquake disasters and construct a database. This database enables to provide improved disaster prevention education and effective disaster prevention planning in the future. In order to construct this database, we utilized 8 local papers of the Tohoku district, 2 local paper of Tokai district. And all the articles regarding tsunami evacuation behavior were extracted from the newspaper. A database consists of the several items, such as when, where and how resident took evacuation behavior and who took evacuation behavior. We clarify some essential points to be considered on how resident should evacuate in the event of tsunami. Key Words: evacuation behavior, the Great East Japan Earthquake, newspaper article database 1. INTRODUCTION On March 11 at 1446 hours Japan Standard Time, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake occurred off the east coast of Honshu Island approximately 231 miles northeast of Tokyo at a depth of approximately 15 miles, generating a tsunami that struck the eastern coast of Japan and resulted in additional fatalities and damage, particularly in Miyagi, Fukushima, and Iwate prefectures. Recent survey shows that the probability damaged by the earthquake and tsunami were 99% in this area. From this survey, many municipalities have stepped up contingency planning. For example, Iwate prefecture compiled a report on simulation about earthquake and tsunami 1). Miyako City in Iwate Prefecture built the biggest storm surge barrier for in anticipation of flooding from tsunami 2). Also, Kamaishi City in Iwate Prefecture strengthens education of the prevention of disasters 3). However, the Great East Japan Earthquake has caused the worst damage of any natural disaster. 15,900 people died and 6,000 people were wounded

2 National police show 92.5% of the cause of death was drowned 4). Altogether, it is difficult the residents acted appropriately a sudden unexpected disaster. For this reason, it is remind of the importance of evacuation behavior from tsunami. And it proves useful that take the lesson learned from this disaster.we should use this lesson as a yardstick in preparing for next disasters. The purpose of this paper, therefore, to consider resident s evacuation behavior from tsunami in the Great East Japan Earthquake. So that, in this paper constructs the newspaper article database. And it clarifies some essential points to be considered on how resident should evacuate in the event of tsunami. This database enables to provide improved disaster prevention education and effective disaster prevention planning in the future. 2. CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE DATABASE ABOUT THE TSUNAMI EVACUATION BEHAVIOR (1) Outline of the newspaper article database The database in this study we construct, is the consensus of newspaper article about tsunami evacuation behavior. It is able to research for information about evacuation behavior from this database. Table 1 shows the item name of this database. The database consists of some items based on 5W1H.Therefore, it enables to consider the point of evacuation activities. Main heading Table 1 list of items of database Sub-headings Information of newspaper articles Basic information No. Name of newspaper Who Date of newspaper Title of articles Man or Woman Ages Job The number of residents Survived or not Someone who provide the information When Where How Timing of evacuation Time noticed the tsunami Prefecture City, town or village The place where residents saw or heard tsunami The place where residents was evacuated from tsunami Full text Use the car or not Need support or not Use information service system Returned home or not Obstructive factor

3 (2) Surveyed newspaper and collected results In this study, we surveyed 10 newspapers. Especially, we surveyed prefecture had bigger damages. Table 2 shows the surveyed newspapers and articles. We collected several articles regarding tsunami caused by earthquake disasters and constructed a database. We collected all articles written about tsunami evacuation behavior. Table 2 list of surveyed newspaper Newspaper District or prefecture the applicable period Iwate Nippo Iwate prefecture Morioka Times Iwate prefecture Akitasakigake Shimpo Akita prefecture Tohou Nippo Miyagi prefecture Kahoku Shimpo Miyagi prefecture Yamagata Shimbun Yamagata prefecture Fukushima Minpo Fukushima prefecture Fukushima Minyu Fukushima prefecture Chunichi Shimbun Tokai district Gifu Shimbun Tokai district ANALYSIS OF TSUNAMI EVACUATION BEHAVIOR According to the database, we enable to analyze resident s decision and selection of tsunami evacuation behavior. Especially, this paper focuses attention on resident s decision. And this paper analyzed about 235 articles that was done summary. Incidentally, selections of evacuation behavior have some point. Many of residents selected car. As a result, many of them hit the traffic jams. Any other case, some residents returned home. And many of them were swept up by the tsunami. Also, it is difficult to evacuation of those who need support in disaster, as is widely alleged. On the basis of the analysis, this paper clarifies about resident s decision. (1) Points of resident s decision for evacuation This paper made five points of resident s decision clear in this disaster. The details are as follows; a) intuition b) records or memories from the past c) information service system d) information from the other e) hear or see tsunami by oneself Figure 1 shows counts of those points that read from the newspaper articles. On the basis of this analysis, here describes results. (2) Characteristics of decision The residents were evacuated on the basis of intuition in the early stage. Some articles show that residents found this disaster is different than usual. Some residents, therefore, made an evacuation. In Tohoku district, tsunami is not uncommon. Tsunami has attacked this district before. In this case, it is the decision point that residents noticed the difference. There were some cases that residents made the decision by the records or memories from the past disaster such as Chilean earthquake. In these cases, the knowledge or consciousness is decision point. In some cases, however, records or memories have led to overconfidence that here is safe place. In some cases, receiving information from the information service system, such as the tsunami warning, residents were decided the evacuation behavior. However, this analysis shows that there were not many

4 intuition records or memories information service system information from the other hear or see Fig.1 Fa behavior Police 5% 10% City worker 38% 14% 14% Fire company acquaintance Stranger 19% Welfare Commissioners Fig.2 The person who send tsunami information residents who evacuated according to information service systems in the early stage. Some residents returned home or went to see tsunami. Also, there are also the cases that could not hear the warning information. Some residents were received the information from the other. Figure 2 shows the percentage of the person who sent tsunami information. It was found that autonomous organizations such as fire company or welfare commissioners acted as the person sending information, however, information from newspaper has limited. Those person supported help needed person as well as sending information. In other words, it is being constructed the information or support evacuation. Incidentally, it is important that information is sent from a trusted others. The residents, thereby, made the evacuation. If information from others was uncertainty, residents did not follow. They ignored repeated warnings from others. Hear or see tsunami by own self is the most common decision for evacuation behavior. As mentioned above, residents used the information from the others to decide an evacuation decision. In this case, it is the key point whether to accept as oneself. In other words, there is nothing like the feeling tsunami by own self. It is, however, not a perfect timing. Because tsunami is near in this case. Therefore, it is often the case that made a miraculous evacuation from death. (3) Timing of decision making to evacuate Here we discuss about the timing of decision making to evacuate. Figure 3 shows the relation between decision and result. As mentioned above, the decisions of residents are divided into five points. The results also are divided into three points because many residents were hit by tsunami and evacuated miraculously. It is also attention point that information from newspaper is not complete and data of killed by tsunami are extremely few. ies of them made a evacuation just before the big earthquake. The residents who relied on the records or memories could evacuate with relative ease. Many of them had known the safe point from past records or memories. As mentioned

5 intuition records or memories information service system killed by tsunami evacyated miraclously evacuated information from the other hear or see 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Fig.3 The relation between the timing of evacuation and results. above, however records or memories have led to overconfi. Because it is reliable information for general, many of the residents relied and they could evacuate. Although it is the important notice that some residents who obtained this information in early timing did not follow. They thought this information is usual alarm. Hence they did not evacuate by these information. Thirdly is. There were many situations that the residents told information to their friends and acquaintances. Many residents made evacuation when they received information immediately, because information was told by the trusted others. In some cases, however, the others told information immediately after they hear or see tsunami. So some residents obtained the information just before they are hit by the tsunami. Hence, many residents who received information from the other evacuated miraculously. To hear or see tsunami made the residents to evacuate just before they are hit by tsunami. In many cases, it was the narrow escape. They could not have a time to prepare for evacuation because tsunami was at close quarters. They had no way other than only just run about trying to evacuate. According to these analysis, it is understood the relation between timing to evacuate and their decision is important. We clarified the difference of the timing by decision. In addition we clarified the characteristic point of decision through evacuation timing. 4. ESSENTIAL POINTS OBTAINED BY THE DATABASE According to above analysis, it is found that a trigger of an effective evacuation behavior is the threat of tsunami that resident hear or see a tsunami by oneself. It is, however, not a perfect timing. Because tsunami is near in this case. From this analysis, it is found that residents evacuated by and intuition could evacuate with relative ease. It should be pointed out that it is necessary to devise each member of the residents are able to remember or feel a tsunami immediately. It is instructive point that it would have to evacuate right now, when earthquakes occur. In the early stage, it is possible to obtain information from the information service system. However, from this analysis, it is difficult that these systems make all residents evacuate, because these system send information for many people. In particular, these systems are devoted just to convey. The information from these systems is only to be given awareness of the tsunami. In the media, it is, also, difficult to make all residents evacuated, because of these character that send an information to public. In other words, it is necessary the ingenuity for produce an effect. It is able to be proposed that the information service system have links to any other information. In this study, it is found that the organization of regional autonomy is functioning. They supported the evacuation of each member of the residents. In this way, the information service system is devised to provide information globally. It is necessary to be processed into information according to local circumstances by receiving the information, and convey for residents. By devised so as to stimulate individual behavior snuggle the region, it is possible to make the appropriate evacuation behavior in the as a whole region

6 5. CONCLUSION In the Great East Japan Earthquake, we clarified that residents made a decision of evacuation from the provided information. Also, it is clarified that many residents made a decision of evacuation based on records or memories from the past. By constructing database of newspaper article about evacuation behavior, it is possible to store the evacuation behavior of residents in the Great East Japan Earthquake. In other words, this database would be able to tell the Great East Japan Earthquake to the future. By using the database that is constructed in this study, it is possible to analyze the evacuation behavior with a variety of perspectives. This paper focuses attention on resident s decision. By focusing on the selection of evacuation behavior, we would be able to learn about obstructive factor. Also local factors are significant to According to this database, it is possible to analyze the relation between local factor and essential point for evacuation. Furthermore, it is necessary to provide improved disaster prevention education and effective disaster prevention planning by using lessons from the Great East Japan Earthquake. REFERENCES 1) Iwate Prefecture, Report of simulation and investigation of damage estimation on the earthquake and tsunami, 2004, Available at: Accessed on June 12, ) Yamashita, F. :Brief history of large embankment declaration and the town of tsunami disaster prevention in the Sanriku coast town, Taro, Historical earthquake, NO.19, ) Kamaishi City in Iwate Prefecture. Guide for tsunami disaster prevention education,2010, Available at: Accessed on June 12, ) National Police Agency. Damage situation and police measures in the Great East Japan Earthquake, 2011, Available at: Accessed on June 12,