Survey on Post-Disaster Timelines Following a Large-Scale Disaster Expected to Occur in the Near Future for Pre-Disaster Recovery Planning

Abstract

The limitation of resources for post-disaster recovery after a large-scale disaster is a global problem. It is difficult to restart all activities simultaneously, so it is critical to determine when diverse social and economic activities should resume, called a post-disaster timeline (PDT). We surveyed PDTs in Aichi Prefecture, which is the most industrialized prefecture in Japan and, therefore, economically important. The results revealed differences in PDTs according to sex, occupation, and reference group (the main group the respondent had in mind when answering questions, such as Japan, Aichi Prefecture, and the disaster-affected area). We estimated PDTs for Aichi Prefecture as a whole and determined what kind of activities are socially acceptable even in the earlier stages of recovery. In pre-disaster recovery planning, it is critical to build consensus by considering the differences in PDTs among different groups of people. Furthermore, when a disaster occurs, PDTs in the disaster-affected prefecture as a whole and the existence of people with different PDTs should be taken into account.