Japan‘s Cabinet Office plans to conduct a survey on stockpiles at designated evacuation facilities across the country. This survey, which will be the first of its kind, aims to assess the availability of goods in these facilities during times of disaster. The decision to conduct this survey came after residents affected by a powerful earthquake in Ishikawa Prefecture faced a shortage of relief supplies earlier this year.
The survey will focus on various essential items such as food, blankets, baby formula, diapers for both infants and adults, portable toilets, toilet paper, and sanitary products. Additionally, it will also include cardboard beds and partitions that were found to be difficult to deploy quickly during the January earthquake.
To ensure that local disaster management plans are adequately prepared with necessary supplies, the central government will share information with local authorities regarding relief supplies during emergencies. The survey will also cover goods stored in warehouses.
As of October 1st, 2023, there are currently 82,911 designated shelters throughout Japan. Based on the findings from this survey, the Cabinet Office intends to encourage municipalities with insufficient stockpiles to increase their efforts in securing necessary amounts. Furthermore, residents will be urged to voluntarily stockpile emergency goods.
By conducting this comprehensive survey and addressing any shortcomings identified within evacuation facilities’ stockpiles nationwide, Japan aims to enhance its disaster preparedness and ensure that adequate resources are available for affected individuals during times of crisis.