20% of local governments in Japan have no disaster specialists: survey

It’s the “Let’s Wait and See” IF it’s needed ‘ plan ‘ .

Not surprising at all. And we'll read the same next year.

What caused manpower shortage in local governments is the central government’s tight fiscal policy and cost cutting over the past two decades. With dwindling subsidies and tax revenues, most local governments had to reduce employees who are often burdened with multiple tasks,

So, TRUE @dbsaiya 7:45a. “”we’ll read the same next year.”

And, we read the same Last year:

Jan 24, 2020 “Only 11% of Japan's municipalities plan disaster... - https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/01/24/national/japan-municipalities-evacuation-manuals-tourists/

An official at the Chonan town government in Chiba Prefecture, which has no disaster specialist, said, "We have no capacity to craft various (disaster) plans and manuals.

Several years ago, there were a couple of minor quakes in Kansai which swayed the house.

Both our cats rushed downstairs and hid under the wooden kitchen table!

Maybe they could also help the local government officials in Chiba with their manuals?

"We have no capacity to craft various (disaster) plans and manuals."

(With tooth-pick teeth sucking sounds, and obligatory bowing as the background, read the following correction to the quote above here)

We have no will, no desire, and most importantly not enough money from the national government to set this up and put it into action.

> No one wants to take responsibility and we will wait until the national government comes and saves our arses in case there is a disaster.

No money?

There is plenty of money to lease top of the range cars for the head honchos in local and prefectural governments...

If you drive a car on the highway with almost no petrol, and you hit a major traffic jam...

For disaster responses, sharing knowledge and skills to the wider public through education and training is important. I'm not sure if the public office sets a standing section specializing in disaster issues.

There is a certificate program called 防災士 open to anyone. I am planning to study and apply for it just for the sake of own survival and possible contributions to our community.

This seems to be assuming that every community is the same. The disaster risk and disaster risk types are completely different in different parts of the country depending on local conditions. Some places may not need a dedicated disaster specialist, while other places, especially those with a history of disasters, should have whole teams.

This article gives the impression that an exclusive disaster specialist is required in all cities, towns, and villages. Odd.

For example, it's possible that the local disaster specialist could double as the election official. I mean, most places don't have elections every weekend or disasters every day.

As long as the city knows who is in charge when a disaster strikes, and that official knows what to do, that is what is important.