Disaster-Affected Schools and School Districts After the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami: Issues for Recovery Education

Abstract

During the period after the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, which occurred on March 11, 2011, many schools produced and submitted records of the earthquake and their recovery process. The purpose of this paper is, based on the records of the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, to present universal information for local disaster prevention. First, this paper categorically summarizes the information gathered immediately after the quake and the tsunami. Next, this paper describes the status of the schools’ restructuring 3 years after the disaster. These schools are separated into three types: Schools directly affected by the disaster and therefore isolated, schools located between the affected and safe areas, and schools located in the safe zone but near the affected area. Although the third type of school had no damage, these schools acted as relief suppliers and bases of operation. Schools directly affected by the disaster were later abolished. It was necessary for the schools located between the affected and safe areas to serve as temporary housing for a long period of time. Schools located in the safe zone near the affected area played a core role in school recovery. Finally, this paper introduced a new design of the disaster risk reduction drill on the basis of the relationship between the school and local community.