Iwate Prefecture's Basic Reconstruction Plan

The situation 6 months after the tsunami

The Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami has had a devastating effect on Iwate. To date, almost 4,650 people have been confirmed dead, and almost 2,000 are still missing. Some communities, such as the towns of Otsuchi and Rikuzentakata in southern Iwate, have lost around 10 per cent of their entire population. 

 

Tsunami victims (as a share of the total population)

Almost 30,000 homes were destroyed by the waves. With damage to infrastructure and the loss of local businesses, the prefecture is also facing a huge financial cost.

Total tsunami damage in Iwate, as at 25 August 2011

The numbers are truly staggering. And it made me feel a bit apprehensive about going to the coast later in the week to see the situation for myself.

Iwate’s Reconstruction Plan

The prefecture has put together an 8-year reconstruction plan to rebuild local communities and try to prevent any further loss of life from other disasters that may strike again in the future. Although a top-down plan from the prefecture (with input from many experts), there is scope for individual communities to consult with residents and adapt the plan to suit local conditions.

The three main goals for the reconstruction process are:

1.    Ensuring safety

2.    Rebuilding lives

3.    Rebooting industries

The first goal, ensuring safety, includes things such as removing debris, monitoring radiation levels, constructing coastal protection facilities and improving transport access, community planning, and education. 

 Piles of cars destroyed by the wave. But where to put them all?

To help residents rebuild their lives, the prefecture is providing temporary housing for two years (so that everyone can finally move out of evacuation centres), focusing on job creation and re-training to assist people find employment, and supporting mental health support, especially for children.

The prefecture also plans to reboot local industries, particularly fisheries, agriculture, forestry, retail and tourism. 

I hope they are able to carry out their plan. There were concerns that local plans and operations are being held up by budget delays in Tokyo. On the other hand, however, I imagine the national government wants to make sure that funding is being used in the most effective way, to help all the people in Japan affected by this disaster.