8USNCEE
Abstract /Paper ID 606
BEHAVIORAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RECONSTRUCTION PROCESSOF VICTIMS IN THE 2004 MID-NIIGATA PREFECTURE EARTHQUAKE
R. Kimura1, H. Hayashi2, S. Tatsuki3 and K. Tamura4

ABSTRACTThe random sampled survey was conducted in the affected area of the 2004 MidNiigata Prefecture Earthquake in Japan. The findings of the survey were as
follows: 1) About 70% of the respondents escaped to the outside of their homestaying in cars, tents and garages on the day of the impact because of the terror of
the aftershocks, 2) Almost 100% of the respondents tried to confirm the safety ofsomebody or/and something right after the impact, 3) According to theReconstruction Calendar, the majority of the victims thought their offices/schools
had resumed already and the financial situation of households were getting better
5 months after the impact, while other items about housing, daily life had notbeen restored yet.
Our group conducted the random surveys in the affected area of the 1995
Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake every two years after 1999. We examined thedifferences of the results of surveys conducted in two disaster areas, urban andrural area.

Introduction
Background and Objective of this Study
The Mid-Niigata Prefecture Earthquake occurred on October 23, 2004. Forty-six people
were killed, 4,801 people injured, 2,827 houses completely destroyed, 12,746 houses seriously
damaged, and 101,509 houses partially destroyed during this earthquake disaster. This is thelargest scale of casualties and physical damage caused by an earthquake since the Great Hanshin
Awaji Earthquake in 1995.
The extent of the damage caused by a disaster depends on the relationship between thehazard and social vulnerability, i.e., the effects of an earthquake depends not only on themagnitude, but on the types of seismic tremors, geography of the region, urban environment,social structure, culture, history, disaster-prevention system, and so on (e.g., Burton et al. 1993;
1

Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya City, JAPAN
46486012
Professor, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Uji City, JAPAN 6110011
3
Professor, Faculty of Social Studies, Doshisya University, Kyoto City, JAPAN 6028580
4
COE Researcher, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Uji City, JAPAN 6110011
1

Mileti 1999; Wisner et al 2004). For the Mid-Niigata Prefecture Earthquake, “damage unique torural mountain villages” was observed and the “type of seismic activities” differed from that of
the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake, so the Mid-Niigata Prefecture Earthquake took on an
entirely different aspect of human behavior from the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake.
Accordingly, to comprehend the effects of the disaster clearly, it is necessary not only to discuss
the extent of casualties and physical damage, but also to elucidate how this disaster influenced
the residents.
Five months after the earthquake in March 2005, Fire and Disaster Management Agency,
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and Disaster Prevention Research Institute,
Kyoto University jointly conducted a survey using a questionnaire based on stratified two-stage
random sampling. This “survey on the actual situation of the evacuation and life reconstruction
after the Mid-Niigata Prefecture Earthquake” was intended to elucidate “the influence of the
Mid-Niigata Prefecture Earthquake on the victims’ feelings and behavior, and the life
reconstruction process at the time of the survey”. The analysis in this paper emphasized “theevacuation and safety confirmation behaviors of the victims and the current status ofreconstruction /restoration.”

MethodThe survey was conducted in Ojiya City and Kawaguchi Town where the casualties anddamage to the houses were serious throughout the area. Both male and female adults living inthis area participated in this survey. The adopted method was stratified two-stage sampling.
Initially, 50 spots in this area were randomly selected: 43 spots in Ojiya City and 7 spots in
Kawaguchi Town, which is proportional to the population ratio. Then a sampling was conductedwith the probability proportional to size. Using the basic registers of the residents, we sampled
20 individuals, which did not reside in the same household, from each spot. We specified theindividual to complete the survey so that an equal number of male and female subjects were
sampled. Consequently, 1,000 subjects were sampled, i.e., 2.19% of the population in the area
(45,668 persons as of March, 2005).
We mailed the questionnaires to the subjects and asked them to return the completed survey
via mail. We mailed the questionnaires on March 18, 2005 and collected them until April 5,2005. Toward the end of March, reminders were mailed to those who had yet to return theirquestionnaires.

Results and Observations(1) Basic Attributes
We collected 543 responses (response rate: 54.3%). Responses, which 1) were partially or
not completed, 2) were error laden, 3) did not specify sex or age, and 4) were from individuals
that did not reside in Ojiya City or Kawaguchi Town during the earthquake, were excluded.
Hence, 518 completed surveys were collected (effective response rate: 51.8%).
2

To ensure random sampling, we verified that the respondents reflected the features of thegeneral population in terms of basic attributes, i.e., sex and age (generation). The number ofhouseholds and estimated population per municipality (as of March 1, 2005) and the estimatedpopulation per age (5-year increments) (aggregate) (as of January 1, 2005), which was publishedby the Emergency Management and Disaster Division, Niigata Prefectural Government, wasused to determine the basic attributes of the general population.
The result of the goodness-of-fit test (Fig. 1) did not show significant differences in sex andage (generation) between the respondents and the general population (sex:χ2(1)=0.85, n.s.,
generation:χ2(2)=5.82, n.s.). Since there were not significant differences in the basic attributes,
it was concluded that respondents do represent the tendencies of the area.
100 ％

100 ％

80

80

χ 2(1)=0.85, n.s.

60

47.1

49.1

52.9

χ 2(2)=5.82, n.s.
60

50.9

40

40

20

20

37.1
22.2

0

Male

Figure 1.

40.7

39.9

33.5

26.6

0

Female20’s & 30’s

40’s & 50’s

60’s and above

Statistical Test on Homogeneity of Respondents and Population(2) Changes in the Victims’ Dwelling Places
To grasp the data of the dwelling places and shelters quantitatively, the respondents wereasked about the types of dwellings and shelters they used on the day of the earthquake until six
months afterwards (since the survey was conducted in March, 2005). The victims were
specifically asked about their dwellings: 1) on the day of the earthquake, 2) two to four days
after the earthquake, 3) two weeks after the earthquake, 4) one month after the earthquake, 5)
two months after the earthquake, and 6) three to six after the earthquake. Based on the results,
the dwelling habits of the area with time were determined.
A previous study on the victims of the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake verified that alogarithmic axis “changing at the intervals of 10 hours, 100 hours and 1,000 hours” ismeaningful (Kimura et al. 1999, 2001, 2004). We compared the survey results from the victimsof the Mid-Niigata Prefecture Earthquake (Fig. 2) to those of the Great Hanshin Awaji
Earthquake (Fig. 3). Illustrating the changes of the victims’ dwelling places on a logarithmic axis,
it was clear that the earthquake disaster produced significant differences in the victims’ behavior
while reconstructing their lives.

3

100 ％

N=420-462
90

Private home80
Tent/car/garage/parking lot

70

Private home
With relatives
Company-subsidized house
At friends/neighbors
Shelter
Tent/car/garage/parking lot
Temporary housing
Rented house

60
50
40
30
20

Shelter
Temporary housing

10

With relatives
At friends/neighbors0

The day of earthquake

10

0

10

2-4 days 2 weeks

10

Rented house

1 month 2 months

2

10

3

3-6 months

104

hours

X=log ‘Time elapsed since the earthquake’

Figure 2.

Changes in the Dwelling Places of the Victims

100 ％Private home
With relatives

90

Company-subsidized house
At friends/neighbors

80

Shelter
Temporary housing
Rented house

70
60

N=381-577

Private home

50
40
30

Shelter

20
Rented house
With relatives

10
0

1/17
10

Temporary housing
At friends/neighbors

0

In the afternoon /18
In the morning
At night

10/19 /20/21/22

10-/29 -2/5

2Feb. Mar. -June
-Dec.
-Sep.

10

3

10

1996 -1998
-2003
-2000

4

hours

X=log ‘Time elapsed since the earthquake’

Figure 3. Changes in the Dwelling Places of the Victimsof the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake4

Table 1.

Changes in the Dwelling Places of the Victims(Upper: This Survey, Lower: the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake (Survey in 2003)

Time elapsed since the earthquake

10hours 102hours

Dwelling place

The day ofearthquake

2-4 day

2 weeks

1 month

10.7
2.1
1.1
0.5
5.0
68.1
0.0
0.0
12.5
439

13.7
4.9
1.1
1.5
13.1
57.5
0.2
0.2
7.7
452

34.6
8.9
1.1
2.2
15.8
29.2
0.2
0.9
7.1
462

66.6
7.1
0.5
0.9
8.0
10.8
0.2
1.4
4.6
437

Private home
With relatives
Company-subsidized house
At friends/neighbors
Shelter
Tent/car/garage/parking lot
Temporary housing
Rented house
OthersＮ103hours

Time elapsed since the earthquake

10hours 102hours

Dwelling place

The day ofearthquake

2-4 day

2 weeks

1 month

56.2
9.9
2.8
2.1
25.5
0.0
0.0
3.6
577

58.2
16.4
1.3
2.4
14.2
0.7
0.7
6.1
457

56.9
23.1
2.5
2.9
7.3
0.9
1.8
4.5
441

67.5
13.2
3.3
2.4
4.3
1.0
5.5
2.9
418

Private home
With relatives
Company-subsidized house
At friends/neighbors
Shelter
Temporary housing
Rented house
OthersＮ

2 months 3-6 months 7-12months

81.0
4.0
0.2
0.5
1.6
1.6
7.0
2.6
1.4
427

2 years

3-6 years

7-8 years

2 years

3-6 years

7-8 years

80.7
2.5
0.5
0.2
0.2
5.9
7.4
2.5
404

89.6
0.8
0
0
0
3.6
4.4
1.6
386

94.0
0.5
0
0
0
0.3
2.9
2.4
381

85.7
1.4
0
0
0
0
8.3
2.9
1.7
420

103hours
2 months 3-6 months 7-12months

72.0
8.6
3.3
1.7
3.8
2.6
6.2
1.7
418

73.2
8.6
1.4
0.2
1.9
5.5
7.8
1.4
421

75.5
3.1
1.7
0.5
1.2
6.3
9.9
1.7
413

The percentages assume the evacuees at each time as 100% (%)

The results of the Mid-Niigata Prefecture Earthquake survey (Fig. 2, Table 1: Upper row)show that only 10.7% of the victims resided at home on the day of the earthquake and two tofour days later that increased to 13.7%. The majority of the victims dwelled outdoors in tents,
cars, garages, and parking lots on the day of earthquake (68.1%) until two to four days after theearthquake (57.5%). The victims began to return home two to four days after the earthquake, but
two weeks after the earthquake only 34.6% resided at home. It took one month for more thanhalf (66.6%) to return home. 13.1% used shelters two to four days later. Shelter usage peaked
two weeks after the earthquake (15.8%) and decreased to 8.0% one month after the earthquake.
The percentage of victims that sought shelter at their relatives’ houses was less than thepercentage at shelters until one month after the earthquake. Thus, relatives’ houses were notwidely utilized as shelters. The percentage of temporary housing started to sharply increase one
month after the earthquake. Three to six months afterwards 8.3% of the victims were dwellingin temporary housing. The percentage of victims that rented houses by themselves also began toincrease one month after the earthquake and three to six months afterwards, that number rose to
2.9%.
Figure 3 and the lower row in Table 1 show the “changes in dwelling places of the victims
in the areas hit by a tremor with a high six or seven intensity on the Japanese seismic scale” in5the random sampling survey conducted on the victims of the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake(Hayashi 2004). Comparing the two results illustrates some key differences. 1) In the MidNiigata Prefecture Earthquake there were a low percentage of victims that dwelled in their own
homes and a high percentage that evacuated outdoors. This is most likely due to the frequent
aftershocks, which were common for five days after the earthquake (Meteorological Agency
2004). These aftershocks caused anxiety about the safety of the buildings and led many victims
to strongly feel that “it was not safe to stay indoors”.
Thus, the sporadic aftershocks substantially affected the victims’ evacuation and dwelling
selection behavior. 2) Fewer victims used their relatives’ houses as shelters. In the Great
Hanshin Awaji Earthquake, relatives’ houses were the largest alternatives to shelters two to fourdays after the earthquake. However, this tendency was not observed in the Mid-Niigata
Prefecture Earthquake. This is probably because relatives’ houses were in close proximity to thedisaster-stricken area and the community was more intimate than in an urban area so that they
did not feel as uncomfortable or inconvenienced at the shelters. The interview of the community
leaders in Kawaguchi clarified the strong social ties of community people in the time of disaster.

(3) Safety Confirmation of the Victims
In addition to evacuating in the initial stage of an emergency, safety confirmation also
occurs. Safety confirmation is defined as “the work to confirm the safety of people, things, andmatters precious to oneself.” In this survey, the respondents were asked whether they actuallyconfirmed the safety/damage of the following 6 items: 1) immediate family, 2) extended family,3) private house, 4) furniture and effects, 5) private car, and 6) their rice and vegetable fields.
They were asked to circle the date on the “calendar” in the questionnaire to indicate when they
confirmed the safety/damage of each item.
Figure 4 shows the time when they confirmed the safety/damage. Within ten hours of theearthquake, the respondents confirmed the safety of their immediate families and then thecondition of their private cars. It was obvious that they confirmed the means to evacuate before
assessing the damage. Within the subsequent 10 hours, they confirmed the safety/damage
conditions of their extended family, their private houses, furniture and effects. Within 100 hours,
they confirmed the conditions of their rice and vegetable fields. Thus, the victims promptly
assessed their situation after the earthquake.
(4) Reconstruction/restoration Process of the Victims
The respondents were asked about the following feelings/behaviors/situations that mark thestages of their life reconstruction/restoration: 1) “Work or school has resumed.” 2) “The housing
problems are finally settled.” 3) “My personal finances are no longer influenced by theearthquake.” 4) “Daily life has settled.” 5) “I no longer feel like a victim.” 6) “The local
economy is no longer influenced by the earthquake disaster.” The respondents were asked tocircle the date on the “calendar” in the questionnaire to indicate when they felt suchfeelings/behaviors/situations.

6

100

％

90

80

①

70

60

50

⑤

②

③

④

⑥

40

30

① Safety of immediate family (n=415)② Safety of extended family/relatives (n=400)③ Damage to private house (n=467)④ Damage to furniture and effects in the house (n=436)⑤ Damage to private car (n=323)⑥ Damage to rice and vegetable fields (n=203)

20

10

0

10/23
100

At night

10

The next
morning/24-26-/30

Nov. Dec.

2

3

10

10

Mar./2005 -Oct.

2006 -2007
-2014
-2009

4
hours
10
X=log ‘Time elapsed since the earthquake’

Figure 4. Time When the Safety and Damage were Assessed

The results (Fig. 5) show that their work or school resumed two weeks after the earthquake.
It took two months (1,000 hours) for their lives to settle, but it took five months (March 2005)
after the earthquake, for more than 50% to resolve their housing issues. As of March 2005,
when the survey was conducted, 44.3% felt that their personal finances were no longer
influenced by the earthquake, while 38.6% indicated that they no longer felt like disaster victims.
However, only 12.1% felt that the local economy was no longer influenced by the earthquake.
The subjective evaluation of the reconstruction/restoration process by the local residents clearly
indicated that the earthquake drastically impacted personal finances and the entire area.
These results were compared to those from the survey conducted in the disaster-strickenarea of the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake in January 2005. It was confirmed that the general
pattern of life reconstruction/restoration process was similar for both. Especially, thereconstruction/restoration stages 1) to 6) occurred in the same order. This suggests that there isa general reconstruction/restoration pattern for earthquake disasters in modern Japan.

7

100

％
① Work/school resumed. (n=405)② Housing problems are finally settled. (n=435)③ Personal finances are no longer influenced by the earthquake. (n=404)④ Daily life settled. (n=450)⑤ No longer feel like a victim. (n=409)⑥ The local economy is no longer influenced by the earthquake (n=403)

90

80

70

H： Results of the survey conducted in the area strickenby the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake in January, 2005
60

The date on the horizontal axis is based on the Mid-Niigata
Prefecture Earthquake.

①

50

①H

④

40

②

④H ②H
③

③H

⑤

⑤H

30

20

⑥

⑥H

10

0

10/23
0

10

At night

10

The next
morning/24-26

-/30

Nov.

2

Dec.
3

10

10

Mar./2005 -Oct.

2006 -2007
-2014
-2009

4

hours
10
X=log ‘Time elapsed since the earthquake’

Figure 5. Life Reconstruction/Restoration Calendar (bold line: the Mid-Niigata Prefecture
Earthquake, fine line: the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake)

Conclusion
This paper examined the “Evacuation Behavior and Life Reconstruction Process of Victims
in the 2004 Mid-Niigata Prefecture Earthquake.” The quantitative data, which was obtained byrandom sampling, clearly shows the changes in dwelling locations. It also indicates the orderthat the victims evaluated the safety of family, assessed the damage, and began to reconstructtheir lives. More victims stayed “in the car, tent, garage or parking lot” two to four days (100hours) after the earthquake, which is most likely due to the aftershocks. Unlike during the Great
Hanshin Awaji Earthquake, the majority of the victims did not stay at home or seek refuge withrelatives since the day of the earthquake.
When assessing the safety and damage, the victims confirmed the safety of their immediatefamily and then their private car (verifying the means to evacuate). Within ten hours after theearthquake, they confirmed the safety of their extended family, the damage to their own house,furniture, and effects. Within 100 hours, they confirmed the conditions of their rice andvegetable fields.
The reconstruction/restoration started two weeks (100 hours) after the earthquake by
returning to work. After two months (1,000 hours), their daily lives had settled. Within six
months (March, 2005), they had resolved their housing issues, felt like their personal finances8were no longer influenced by the earthquake, and that they were no longer victims. However,less than 50% felt that the local economy had recovered from the earthquake, which indicates theextensive impact that the earthquake caused in this area.
The disaster-stricken area is still in the process of reconstruction/restoration. To elucidate
the entire recovery/restoration process, we plan to conduct follow-up surveys on a regular basis.
We also would like to compare the obtained data to the results of other disaster studies (e.g., theGreat Hanshin Awaji Earthquake, etc.) in order to determine the generality and applicability ofthis data.

References
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Kimura, R., Hayashi, H., Tatsuki, S. and Urata, Y.,1999. Clarifying the human behavior of the disastervictims after the Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake, Journal of Social Safety Science, No, 1, 93-102.
(Japanese)
Kimura, R., Hayashi, H., Tatsuki S. and Tamura, K., 2001. Determinants and Timing of Housing
Reconstruction in the 1995 Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Disaster -A 2001 Replication-, Journal ofSocial Safety Science, No, 3, 23-32. (Japanese)
Kimura, R., Hayashi, H., Tatsuki S. and Tamura, K., 2004. Psychologically Defined Life Reconstruction
Processes of Disaster Victims in the 1995 Hanshin Awaji Earthquake, Journal of Social Safety
Science, No, 6, 241-250. (Japanese)
Mileti, D., 1999. Disasters by Design, Joseph Henry Press, Washington, D.C.
Meteorological Agency, 2004. Report on the 2004Mid-Niigata Prefecture Earthquake (Bulletin No. 31),
Press release materials, Meteorological Agency, Japan.
Wisner, B., Blaikie, P., Cannon, T., and Davis, I., 2004. At Risk; Natural hazards, people’s vulnerability
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