Disaster Prevention - Bousai

Japanese: 防災 - ぼうさい

There are various types of disasters, from those caused by natural phenomena to those caused by human actions, and even everyday disasters that occur within homes, and disaster preparedness is a general term for clarifying the mechanisms by which each type of disaster occurs and taking measures to ensure the safety of human life and property. Disasters in this case include storms, heavy rain, heavy snow, floods, high tides, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and other abnormal natural phenomena, as well as large-scale fires and explosions. Disaster preparedness is often used synonymously with disaster countermeasures, disaster prevention, and disaster prevention.

Many disasters are expected in urban areas with high population concentration and density, and in areas with ongoing volcanic activity, so measures against such disasters are being considered important from all quarters. These include the construction of levees and drainage channels to prevent flooding of small and medium-sized rivers in cities, measures to prevent flooding of underground spaces, measures to prevent damage from rising river levels in campsites, fire prevention measures, and evacuation measures in the event of a volcanic eruption. Regional disaster prevention plans and the creation of evacuation centers in the event of an earthquake are also included. What is particularly needed today is the strengthening of cooperation between national and local disaster prevention organizations in the event of a large-scale disaster such as an earthquake, volcanic eruption, or flood, the improvement of regional comprehensive disaster prevention capabilities in which all citizens, including private disaster prevention organizations, companies, organizations, and individuals, each play their role and cooperate with each other, and the adoption of information and communication technology to collect and transmit accurate disaster information using image information, map information, etc. Furthermore, after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995, the Earthquake Disaster Prevention Special Measures Act (Act No. 111 of 1995) was enacted with the aim of strengthening earthquake disaster prevention measures. In addition, based on the lessons learned from the disaster, it is now necessary to promote the creation of disaster-resistant cities by making buildings earthquake-resistant, to secure evacuation centers, and to establish crisis management systems and wide-area support systems in disaster prevention organizations and the like.

In terms of administration, Article 2, Clause 2 of the Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act defines disaster prevention as "preventing disasters before they occur, preventing damage from spreading when disasters occur, and recovering from the disaster." In other words, it is often used synonymously with "disaster countermeasures," which includes disaster prevention, disaster emergency measures, and disaster recovery. Laws related to disaster prevention organizations include the Ministry Establishment Act, which defines the distribution of authority among administrative agencies, the Fire Service Organization Act, the Self-Defense Forces Act, and the Police Act, which define the organization of the operational agencies, based on the Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act, as well as parts of the Fire Service Act, Flood Control Act, and Disaster Prevention Act for Petrochemical Complexes, etc. that include disaster prevention organizations.

[Jiromaru Masao]

National disaster prevention system

Article 3, paragraph 1 of the Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act clarifies the national disaster prevention responsibility as "Considering that the national government has a mission to protect the national land and the lives, bodies and property of the people from disasters, it has the responsibility to take all possible measures regarding disaster prevention using all of its organizations and functions," and stipulates that a Central Disaster Prevention Council be established to coordinate the policies of each ministry and agency to prevent them from lacking consistency. In other words, the national disaster prevention system is divided among 24 designated administrative agencies, of which the Cabinet Office is responsible for planning and drafting disaster-related plans and coordinating disaster-related affairs of related administrative agencies, excluding those that fall under the jurisdiction of other administrative agencies, while the Fire and Disaster Management Agency is responsible for liaison and coordination between the national government and local governments, and between local governments themselves, in affairs based on the Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act. The Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act also stipulates the disaster prevention systems of local governments, disaster prevention systems during disasters, and emergency systems.

[Jiromaru Masao]

"Fire and Disaster Management Agency, Earthquake Disaster Prevention Guidance Office, '95 Earthquake Disaster Prevention Symposium Special Collection of Contributions' (1995, Local Finance Association)" ▽ "Fire and Disaster Management Agency, Fire and Disaster Management Agency, Fire and Disaster Management White Paper, 2009 Edition (2009, Nikkei Printing)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

自然現象による災害から、人間の行為による災害、および住宅内における日常災害まで、種々の災害があるが、それぞれの災害の発生機構を明らかにし、人命および財産の安全を図ることを目的として対策を行うことの総称である。この場合の災害には、暴風、豪雨、豪雪、洪水、高潮、地震、津波、噴火その他の異常な自然現象または大規模な火事、爆発などが含まれる。災害対策、災害防止、災害予防と同義に使用されることが多い。

　人口の集中、高密度化の進んだ都市部、火山活動が続く地域などでは多くの災害が予想されるので、各方面からその対策が重要視されている。都市中小河川の氾濫(はんらん)に対する堤防、放水路の整備、地下空間への浸水対策、キャンプ地における河川増水被害対策、火災予防対策、火山噴火時の避難対策などがそれである。地域防災計画および地震発生時の避難拠点づくりなども含まれる。今日とくに求められているものは、地震、火山噴火、洪水などによる大規模な災害発生時に国、地方公共団体等の防災関係機関の連携の強化、自主防災組織をはじめとする民間の防災組織や企業、団体、個人など、すべての国民がそれぞれ役割を担い、連携協力する地域総合防災力の向上および情報通信技術を取り入れ、画像情報、地図情報なども活用した的確な災害情報の収集、伝達の実施などである。また、1995年（平成7）の阪神・淡路(あわじ)大震災後、地震防災対策の強化を図ることを目的とした地震防災対策特別措置法（平成7年法律第111号）が制定されたほか、大震災の教訓を踏まえ、建築物の耐震化などによる災害に強い街づくりの推進、避難拠点の確保、防災機関などにおける危機管理体制や広域応援体制の確立などが必要とされている。

　行政面では、災害対策基本法第2条第2号によると、防災とは「災害を未然に防止し、災害が発生した場合における被害の拡大を防ぎ、及び災害の復旧を図ること」とされている。すなわち、災害予防、災害応急対策、災害復旧などを内容とする「災害対策」と同義に使用されることが多い。このような防災組織に関する法としては、災害対策基本法を基本として、行政官庁の権限の分配を定めた各省庁設置法、実働機関の組織を定めた消防組織法、自衛隊法、警察法などがあるほか、消防法、水防法、石油コンビナート等災害防止法などのうち防災の組織を含めた部分がある。

［次郎丸誠男］

国の防災体制

災害対策基本法第3条第1項では、国における防災責任を「国は、国土並びに国民の生命、身体及び財産を災害から保護する使命を有することにかんがみ、組織及び機能のすべてをあげて防災に関し万全の措置を講ずる責務を有する」として明確にし、各省庁の施策が互いに整合性を欠くことを防止するため、中央防災会議を設置し、この場でその調整を図ることとしている。すなわち、国の防災体制は、24の指定行政機関に分掌されているが、このうち内閣府においては、他の行政機関の所掌に属するものを除き、災害に関する企画、立案および関係行政機関の災害に関する事務の調整を行い、一方消防庁では、災害対策基本法に基づく事務で国と地方公共団体および地方公共団体相互間の連絡調整を行うこととされている。なお、災害対策基本法では、地方公共団体の防災体制、災害時の防災体制、緊急事態の体制などについても定めている。

［次郎丸誠男］

『消防庁震災対策指導室編『'95地震防災対策シンポジウム特別寄稿集』（1995・地方財務協会）』▽『消防庁編『消防白書』平成21年度版（2009・日経印刷）』

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