Research Trends and Results

Issue of Guideline to Tsunami Evacuation Measuresfor Ports and Harbors and Guideline to Design ofTsunami Evacuation Facilities for Ports and Harbors
ASAI Tadashi, HeadKUMAGAI Kentaro, Senior Researcher (Dr. Eng.)
Coastal Disaster Prevention Division, Coastal Marine and Disaster Prevention Department
MIYATA Masafumi, Head (Dr. Eng.)Port Facilities Division, Port and Harbor Department(Key words) Tsunami evacuation measure, outer levee area, tsunami evacuation simulation, tsunami evacuation
facility
1. BackgroundPorts and harbors play important roles as centers ofindustry, logistics and maritime transport, where manykinds of stakeholders, such as workers, passengers etc.,
are active in their respective roles. But many of the areas
in ports face the shoreline on the ocean side of theprotection line (sea wall etc. that protects the landsidearea from storm surges and tsunamis). These areas,so-called outer levee areas, are at high risk of inundation
by tsunami, where measures must be taken to ensure thevictims safe and prompt evacuation.
So tsunami evacuation measures must be taken
considering the characteristics of ports and harbors. In
the same manner, the tsunami evacuation facilities
must be constructed so they are effective for
emergency or temporary evacuation of evacuees fromareas where evacuation is difficult.
Figure. Conceptual Diagram of Tsunami Evacuation
Measures for Port or Harbor
Conceptual Diagram of Tsunami
Evacuation Measures for Port or Harbor
Protection Line (dike/sea wall)

Evacuation route
Evacuation target point

Ocean side

Land side

Area where evacuation
is difficult
Predicted tsunami
inundation area
Evacuation area
Emergency evacuation
siteTsunami evacuation
facilitiesEvacuationroute
Building (provisional)
Embankment
Tsunami evacuationbuilding
Tsunami evacuation
tower
Light (outside stairwellattached)

2. Guideline to Tsunami Evacuation Measures forPorts and Harbors
Since February 2013, a study committee has held
five meetings to issue the guideline, established by
Ports and Harbours Bureau, Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, (Chairman:Professor ISOBE Masahiko, Vice President, Kochi
University of Technology).

The guideline, as a reference to establish thetsunami evacuation measures for individual ports,
stipulates basic concepts concerning the roles of port
administrators, related members and organizations,and related and coordinating regional disasterprevention plans and tsunami evacuation plans ofsurrounding local governments. The guideline also
shows tsunami evacuation methods, including
extracting methods for areas where evacuation isdifficult and methods of laying out tsunami evacuation
facilities.
Our divisions provided information about the resultsof research on the evacuation activities in ports andharbors and the application of tsunami evacuation
simulation.
3. Guideline to Design of Tsunami Evacuation
Facilities for Ports and Harbors
Since March 2013, a working group has held four
meetings to issue the guideline established by thePorts and Harbours Bureau, Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, (Chairman:Professor KIYOMIYA Osamu, Waseda University)
The guideline shows basic concepts for design ofeach item of tsunami evacuation facilities for ports andharbors: representative conditions required by tsunami
evacuation plans (e.g. identifying areas whereevacuation is difficult, estimating the number ofpeople to be evacuated, arranging the layout oftsunami evacuation facilities, etc.), conditions required
for evacuation, required structural conditions, andrequired administrative conditions. The guideline isintended to support the proper design of tsunami
evacuation facilities for ports and harbors underevacuation measures applied by the Guideline toTsunami Evacuation Measures for Ports and Harbors.
Our divisions have shown the basic concepts ofobjects of tsunami evacuation facilities in ports andharbors, with reference to related laws, regulations,and standards. We have also provided technicalResearch Trends and Results
support for the establishment of tsunami evacuation
facilities design methods.
4. To Promote Tsunami Evacuation Measures
Our divisions will hereafter provide lectures for a
training course to help port administrators understandthe guideline, and provide technical assistance to help
them establish specific tsunami evacuation plans or
tsunami evacuation facility plans, and to promotetsunami evacuation measures for ports and harbors.
[Sources]
1) Guideline to Tsunami Evacuation Measures forPorts and Harbors, September 2013
http://www.mlit.go.jp/kowan/kowan_tk7_000013.html
2) Guideline to Design of Tsunami Evacuation
Facilities for Ports and Harbors, October 2013
http://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/port05_hh_000054.
html