Fukishima EQ/ Tsunami (March 2011) Flashcards
Magnitude? Focus? Tsunami travel?
=> Magnitude 9.
=> Focus of 30km.
=> Large Tsunamis travelled 10km in land.
Extent of hazard?
=> Some waves reached California, USA, causing $10m damage.
Primary and Secondary Effects?
=> About 16,000 dead.
=> 6,000 injured.
=> Aftershocks from the EQ: 7.1 EQ in April —-> led to 3.6 million homes having power cuts.
=> Reconstruction of schools, hospitals and housing took 5 years.
=> 2/3 of victims over 60, unable to evacuate, and couldn’t use technology for information. —-> More vulnerable.
=> High levels of radiation as hit power plants. E.g Daiichi.
Responses?
=> INTERNATIONAL: The Japanese Red Cross received over $1 billion in donations and gave emergency relief and sleeping kits.
=> Doctors and nurses flown in from other parts of the country to help with relief, and patients flown out to receive treatment.
=> Within 30 mins, military air crafts identified cut off communities. JSDF moved in and cleared debris in two days. —-> Emergency goods then could be delivered.
Why live in a tectonic area?
=> Mainly small EQs, 400 a day. Impossible to not live in a tectonically active area in Japan.
=> Cost of mitigation stratergies can be met —> Aseismic built environment, high trust society, community practice.
Economic Impacts?
=> Cost $220 billion, most expensive ever.
=> 46,000 buildings destroyed, 10% of Japan’s fishing ports.
=> Production in multinationals like Sony hit by electricity shortages, impacted oversea supply chains that relied on parts from Japan.
=> Government injected billions of Yen to stimulate the industry to try to reduce debt. —–> Japan still remains successful and resilient.
Environmental Impacts?
=> 25 million tonnes of debris created by EQ.
=> Farmland flooded by seawater and became contaminated by salt. —> Became uncultivable and Tohoku region devastated. Accounts for 3-4% of rice production.
=> 250 mile stretch of coastline dropped, allowing tsunami to travel further inland.
Political Impacts?
=> Government went into debt trying to stimulate the economy.
=> Fall out in W Europe over anti-nuclear lobby from Germany.
=> Japan would move away from nuclear energy for time being.
=> Government set up expert advisory body (Reconstruction Design Council) to plan long-term strategy on development of a stronger economy and society.
—–> Includes Special Zones for Reconstruction with incentives for investment. - 2020: 80% complete.
Mitigating against the event?
=> Red cross fitted 70,000 prefabricated homes with key appliances for 280,000 people in hardest hit areas.
=> Immediate shut off —-> No gas leaks.
=> Aid not required.
Mitigating against vulnerability?
=> Over 70 million spent on monitory lasers for slightest movement to predict EQ.
=> Community preparedness: Disaster day: September 1st.
=> Buildings have aseismic design, old buildings have fire proofing.
=> JR East (Railway) invested to upgrade earthquake measuring equipment. One second faster cut off of electricity. On the day of disaster all 27 trains in area had stopped without derailment or any deaths.
Success of Strategies?
=> Fukishima nuclear plant shutdown as tidal wave overcame backup generators and batteries. —> Long-Term: Radioactive contamination in surrounding area.
=> 2008 EQ drill highlighted danger of isolated communities. —> Led to priority of aircrafts to survery the area.
Modifying against losses?
=> Market instability prompted G7 to meet Agreed to sell yen against the dollar. —-> Yen became strong again afterwards.
=>Well rehearsed recovery and reconstruction plan on local and national level.
Effect on Sense of Place?
=> Forced relocation of 100,000 people.
=> Many are afraid to return due to radiation.
=> Life has returned to normal in many cities but divide between willingness to accept ‘
