Meteorological information used for disaster prevention has developed rapidly in terms of both type and specificity. The latest forecasting models can predict weather with very high resolutions that can characterize disaster risk at the local level. However, this development can lead to an overdependency on the information and a wait-and-see attitude by the public. At the same time, residents share and use various types of information for disaster response, such as local conditions, in addition to official disaster information. Our research in Japan verified the practicality and efficiency of synergistically integrating these types of information by examining actual evacuation cases. The current numerical forecasting models sufficiently identify locality from the viewpoint of various administrative scales such as prefectures, municipalities, and school districts, but the improvements to these models have failed to improve residents’ judgment in successful evacuation cases. We therefore analyzed the relationship between meteorological information and residents’ disaster response and confirmed that they were strongly correlated and were contributing factors in preventing disasters. We revealed differences between a community’s disaster prevention culture and the disaster information provided. This led us to propose a new concept in community disaster prevention that we call the “disaster response switch,” which can serve as a data-driven risk management tool for communities when used in combination with advanced meteorological disaster information.
This study examined the evacuation behavior of two communities-Naganuma and Toyono-in Nagano City, Japan, during typhoon Hagibis. Only two casualties were reported, despite the large size of the inundated area and significant building damage. We analyzed the relationship between (1) the numerical statement of aggregated evacuation behavior, (2) social and hazard circumstances, and (3) the social background, including disaster preparedness plans formulated by the community. The study focused on "the details" of evacuation promotion factors revealed by previous research, rather than "the existence or absence" of such factors. Data were collected from newspaper articles, a post-interview survey conducted by Kansai Television Co. Ltd., minutes from the flood control meetings in the flooded area, and district disaster management plans. The results revealed that the main factors promoting evacuation action differed for the two communities due to their disaster preparedness styles. While Naganuma established a specific (a particular measurement of the water level of the Chikuma River) and socially agreed-upon criterion for evacuation, Toyono had experienced several inland flooding events. It was found that both communities participated in the flood control meetings, formed organizations for voluntary disaster mitigation action, and cultivated common awareness regarding "the sign of a dangerous situation" and "what information is important for evacuation."
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