Kobe, Japan -Local Scale Case Study Flashcards
When did the Kobe earthquake happen?
17th January 1995
What magnitude was the earthquake?
6.8
What is another name for this earthquake?
The Great Hanshin Earthquake
Where was the epicentre?
20km from the central parts of the city.
What record did the earthquake hold at that time?
It was the costliest urban disaster of that time.
What was the total cost to the economy?
$100 billion
How much of Japan’s GDP is $100 billion?
2.5%
How many people were killed in the earthquake?
Over 6000 people
How many people were injured as a result of the earthquake?
35,000
How many people were made homeless?
Nearly 250,000
What percentage of the city’s building had been insured?
3%
What was a consequence of people not having insurance on their buildings?
Dwellings that had been seriously damaged or destroyed faced financial ruin.
What happened to Kobe 6 months after the event?
A typhoon passed over the area.
Why did the Japanese feel that they were prepared for earthquakes?
They had researched the hazard and their wealth had allowed them to spend money on several forms of risk management.
What did some critics say about how prepared the country was for an earthquake?
They argued that there was an illusion of preparedness among the people and the city authorities and that they were caught unaware by the severity of the event.
What type of housing was present in the city and caused a threat?
Older, traditional houses.
Why did the homes have heavy tiles on the roof?
To withstand typhoons.
What was a problem with the heavy roofs on the houses?
They injured and killed people when the supports collapsed.
What had not been retrofitted?
The majority of homes and transport infrastructure.
Before 1995, when had Kobe last experienced a serious earthquake?
It hadn’t experienced a serious one for 400 years.
What did the gap in between serious earthquakes mean?
People and the authorities had not maintained sufficient emergency supplies.
True or false: commentators accused the Japanese government of poorly managing the aftermath of the event?
True
What did the Japanese government do which made people more vulnerable?
They were slow to react to the scale of it, they didn’t encourage community volunteers and refused offers for help by foreign governments.
What opportunity did people have after the earthquake?
They had the opportunity to put in place sustainable development plans that took disaster threats into account.
What was the estimated bill for reconstruction?
$120 billion
What did commentators speak positively about?
Kobe’s impressive efforts.
What had the city achieved within a short period of time after the earthquake?
Electric power, water, gas, telecommunications and major road and rail links were restored within months of the event.
How many housing units were supplied within several months to take care of the homeless?
48,000
After the event, what percentage of the population were homeless?
20%
What percentage of port operations were restored within one year?
70%
What percentage of debris was successfully re-used in landfill sites?
60%
What happened to manufacturing 15 months after the event?
15 months after the event, manufacturing output of the Kobe region was up to 96% of what it had been before the earthquake.
What is the name of the document that was released after the earthquake?
Disaster Management in Japan
What are 4 aims of the Disaster Management in japan document?
Provide recovery and reconstruction
Help people to return to a normal life
Restore facilities with the intention of preventing disasters in the future
Implement fundamental development plans that focus on safety in the community
What has happened since the event that has allowed Japan to learn from the past?
There have been a number of conferences and research studies that have been analysed from different professional points of view.
What has the city council done to older buildings since the event?
Retrofitted them
Why has the city council improved the fire fighting capacity of the city?
A vast number of buildings were destroyed by fires.
How is the city council looking to improve its fire fighting capacity?
By looking at other sources of extinguishing fire such as land and sea.
How is the council protecting lifelines?
By creating back up systems
Give an example of a back up telecommunication line that is now in place?
They have a duplicate fibre optic system
How is the council encouraging community preparation?
By having an education and awareness programme
What areas of concern where highlighted by the disaster that have now been improved?
Stocking up on important resources
Availability of basic tools for search and rescue
Teaching ordinary people to put out fires
Why is the city council now encouraging a range of NGOs?
They seemed flexible during the disaster when government bodies were not.
What disaster-resistant measures have been put in place?
Firebreaks along rivers and roadways
A mountain greenbelt to reduce landslides
A new canal system to ensure a reliable water supply
Back up systems for hospitals
What message did the mayor of Kobe send out?
Be prepared to protect yourself and work with others
