Laserfiche WebLink
<br />ROO-8 <br /> <br />Nobuhiko Iwasaki <br />Sociology Course, Faculty of Letters, Kobe University, Professor <br />Kobe 657-8501 Japan <br />e-mail: NobuhikoJwasaki@ma5.seikyou.ne.jp <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Role of Local Communities in Rescne and Shelter Administration During the <br />Kobe Earthqnake <br /> <br />Local communities in Japan are based on block associations (or neighborhood association) called <br />chonai-kai in Japanese. Chonai-kais are organized in almost all areas in order to enhance residents' <br />mutual friendship and to complement local authorities in maintaining amenity. They are usually <br />combined within a precinct. <br /> <br />Some typical activities ofIocal communities in shelter administration <br />a. shelter administration covering all shelter facilities within a precinct conducted by a combined <br />chonai-kai: one case among all the precincts in Kobe-city <br />b. shelter administration covering some shelter facilities and many homes within the range of a <br />combined chonai-kai: two cases among fifteen combined chonai-kais in Nada-ward, Kobe-city <br />c. shelter administration conducted by a single chonai-kai: one case among 108 chonai-kais in <br />Nada-ward <br />d. shelter activities to aid sufferers conducted by chonai-kai subgroups like youth association and <br />old people association: some cases in Nada-watd <br />e. shelter activities conducted by chonai-kai chairman in his personal effort: three cases in <br />Nada-ward <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />2 Reasons why many chonai-kais were inactive in emergency activities <br />a. Unity and activities of chonai-kais in Kobe-city before earthquake were weak compared to <br />those of chonai-kais in other cities. <br />b. More than a half of chonai-kai chairmen are the aged, older than 60 years and many of sub <br />leaders are elected unwillingly in turn. <br />c. Two thirds of chonai-kai chairmen's homes were heavily damaged. <br />d. Shelters in schools were so crowded and, in addition, fire extension or information about a gas <br />leak confused the range of precincts. <br /> <br />3 Bases and possibilities of enhancing activities of local communities for disaster mitigation <br />a. Rescue activities conducted by neighbors were found in places. According to a research by a <br />Hyogo prefecture office, eighteen thousand victims were rescned and fifteen thousand of them <br />were rescued by neighbors. It can be said that those neighborhood activities have been <br />incubated by usual chonai-kai activities. <br />b. Members of PTA or Sports Association were active in shelter administration at some schools. <br />Usual activities within a precinct will be effective in shelter administration at schools. <br />c. Some highly advanced shelter administration conducted by a combined chonai-kai or a single <br />chonai-kai, mentioned above, were based on long term activities for community improvement <br />and welfare. Many municipalities are now accelerating the programs for community welfare as <br />well as community security within a precinct. <br /> <br />. <br />