International Day for Disaster Reduction 2011: Sendai City, Japan in the spotlight

Hit by disasters every year, Japan is one of the most well prepared nations to deal with earthquakes, flooding and tsunamis, with early warning systems, hazard maps, disaster response equipment and centers already in place.

But the work does not end here. As the scale and magnitude of disasters rise, more work is needed to lessen their casualties and damages.

The ICLEI Member City of Sendai, Japan, hit hardest by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in March this year, is doubling its efforts in reducing disaster risk.

For the flood events, local governments have more responsibility. The municipalities are the one who announce the evacuation order depending on the water level at the river. Since major rivers are managed by National Government in Japan and secondary rivers are managed by Prefectural Government, the information of water level in these rivers are informed by these government to municipalities. There are several water level set for the level of evacuation (Evacuation advisory & Evacuation Instructions), but basically the Mayors are responsible to announce the evacuation order once the water level goes above set water level.

Further, Sendai’s Tohoku University, closed down due to the March 11 earthquake, will be establishing an international disaster research center when it reopens next year.

Tohoku University will also be joining the International Day for Disaster Reduction, with the theme is "Recovery and Regeneration from the Great East Japan Earthquake: Message from Tohoku to the world".

The number of challenges arising after the March 11 earthquake is not unique to Japan. The experience gained in the disaster area in Tohoku is important to be shared worldwide. On the International Day for Disaster Reduction, Tohoku University, Kobe University, and companies will report and make recommendations about the emerging practices of disaster recovery.

International Day for Disaster Reduction - ICLEI gets involved

ICLEI, as a key partner to UNISDR’s ‘Making Cities Resilient’ campaign, is celebrating the International Day for Disaster Reduction.

Step up! International Day for Disaster Reduction – 13 October 2011
The 2011 theme is “Step up to Disaster Risk Reduction!" to show that risk reduction matters.

How can you show people you care about disaster risk reduction? – Take a picture!
‘Step up’ and take a picture with people in your city, colleagues, friends in your community – and make a little ‘roof’ over your head to signal to the world that you want to be RESILIENT to DISASTER on this very special day.

Upload your picture on Flickr, add a video to YouTube, Twitter about it – and tag everything #ICLEI #iddr11.