Which Persons and Organizations Will Be Relied upon the Most in the Case of the Next Major Disaster? - Results from the Random Sampled Social Surveys of the Disaster Victims of the 1995 Kobe Earthquake and the 2004 Mid-Niigata Earthquake Disaster

Abstract eng:
Once a major disaster hit a community, its victims immediately begin to suffer from many devastating situations. They need various kinds of help and support from various sources in order to repair the damage sustained in the disaster, and to return to their normal lives. Many types of organizations try to help them to this end. In this context, it is relevant to ask exactly what kind of help does a victim rely upon the most? In order to discover the answer to this pertinent question we conducted random social surveys in the areas affected by the 1995 Kobe Earthquake and the 2004 Mid-Niigata Earthquake. We asked the victims about their attitudes towards the help and support that had been provided to them from various sources. The actual questions we composed were structured as follows: If another damaging earthquake occurred, you might need personal and emotional support, material and financial assistance, or assistance in receiving vital information. For each of the following persons, facilities and organizations, please indicate in which ones you have trust and confidence in terms of receiving personal and emotional support. Please circle all those in which you have trust and confidence, and double-circle the one in which you have the most trust and confidence.” 24 names of organizations and individuals were then listed below the question. In both the urban and the mountainous areas, personal and emotional support was sought from close family, such as partners and children. Additionally, urban victims placed confidence and trust in the abilities of lifeline services and industries to provide such support, whilst rural victims placed greater value on the local administration and relatives. In terms of material and financial assistance, victims from the mountainous area showed strong expectation towards government assistance, whilst urban victims saw the speedy recovery of normal lifeline utilities as constituting material and financial assistance. Finally, in terms of assistance in receiving vital information, victims in both the urban and the mountainous areas looked to the mass media to provide them with information about the scale of the disaster and wider recovery and reconstruction, and to governmental administrations for information about more immediate life recovery and relief.

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