Residents’ Concerns Regarding Schools Designated as Evacuation Shelters

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of residents who are knowledgeable about the schools used as shelters. Methods: The target group was comprised of teachers and guardians of children enrolled in 4 schools, which were selected in the vicinity of District B, which was severely damaged by heavy rain in 2014. A qualitative descriptive study design was used. Results: The number of surveys collected was 1702 (collection rate 62.2%). A total of 1017 clauses were entered, and 85 codes were generated for 7 categories. The guardians and teachers believed that there was a discrepancy between shelter capacity and the real situation; citing a lack of information, and ill preparedness of the schools for disasters as some of the problems. Based on the knowledge and experiences from previous disasters, they responded that there was inadequate management, and evacuees faced difficulty living comfortably in the shelters. Conclusion: In order to use school facilities during any disaster, it is important for residents to recognize the need to solve problems, and to work with local governments to support improvements. This realization reveals a sense of ownership of emergency shelters and prevents confusion among residents. Also, this will help people to prepare for disasters and prevent disruption during evacuation.

Factors Related to the Willingness of People with Mental Health Illnesses Living in Group Homes to Disclose Their Illness to Supporters during Disaster Evacuation: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…In Japan, disaster-related information has traditionally been provided through television broadcasts after a disaster occurs. In a 2016 survey, television was the most popular source for people’s disaster information [ 32 ], but in a 2022 survey, the younger people were, the more likely they were to obtain disaster information from their smartphones [ 33 ]. Furthermore, when choosing where to obtain information when deciding whether to evacuate, excluding group home staff who regularly support the daily lives of PMHI, people’s most common source of information was television and then smartphones, which is consistent with recent trends in Japan.…”

Relationship between Teachers’ Awareness of Disaster Prevention and Concerns about Disaster Preparedness

“…Moreover, public schools have also been used as evacuation sites in other Asian countries [6,7]. Reportedly, the involvement in both children's education and shelter operations after a disaster is stressful for teachers [8]. Further, teachers have not been educated in how to operate shelters [9].…”

Basic Training of Teachers and Public Health Nurses for Communication with Residents for Smooth Shelter Management: A Pilot Study

“…This role of education facilities is not unique to Japan and is found in other parts of Asia [4,5]. To safeguard their educational capacity, the Japanese government has issued guidelines that limit the functioning of schools as temporary shelters [6,7].…”

“…In reality, the restrictions have not been followed strongly. In schools that have been used as evacuation centers, teachers, who should have continued to educate children, took on the role of center management [7]. After disasters, teachers also faced difficulties in performing their other regular duties, such as ensuring the children's safety throughout the school day [8,9].…”

“…In order to support teachers to be able to focus on what they consider to be their true responsibilities in times of disasters, measures involving students, teachers, parents, and residents are needed [7]. Sharing knowledge between local and non-local stakeholders is becoming increasingly important to better understand and address existing and new challenges for a safer and more sustainable future [15].…”