## [Reinforcing partnerships]

## ☐ NPO and business coordination to enhance local disaster prevention capabilities

In order to mitigate damage from natural disasters, it is important for local residents to coordinate with NPOs and businesses to enhance local disaster prevention capabilities. To that end, we must raise awareness of the idea that people should look after their own safety.

## (Efforts by autonomous disaster prevention organizations)

The formation of autonomous disaster prevention organizations, an example of “mutual assistance,” varies greatly by community area. In order to conduct voluntary disaster prevention activities in an effective and organized way, it is necessary to develop autonomous disaster prevention organizations in each area and carry out repeated disaster drills and the like in coordination with NPOs, etc. in anticipation of large-scale disasters.

## (Efforts for disaster prevention by businesses)

It is advisable that businesses, along with “self assistance” efforts like preparing offices or places of business for earthquakes or wind and flood damage, also formulate advance business continuity plans (BCP) to ensure that critical functioning is brought back on line as soon as possible in the event of a disaster. It is also important for businesses to contribute to local disaster prevention efforts as part of “mutual assistance.”

## (Government support for the strengthening of local disaster prevention capabilities)

The government also must actively support the strengthening of local disaster prevention capabilities, for example by networking together disaster prevention NPOs and volunteers and introducing forward-looking efforts like autonomous disaster prevention organizations.

From the above, it is important to increase local disaster prevention capabilities. This can be achieved by efforts of “self assistance” on the individual level as well as by “mutual assistance” in the form of voluntary measures taken through the coordination of community associations, commercial districts, PTAs, NPOs, businesses, and other entities. Disaster prevention must also be set firmly in place as something to be addressed, to the extent possible, in ordinary times as well.

## ○ Reinforcing partnerships with local authorities

Local authorities play a critical role in handling natural disasters, and it is important to increase local disaster prevention capabilities through a greater degree of coordination than ever before between local authorities and the national government, local residents, NPOs, businesses, and other entities.

## (Efforts for disaster prevention by local authorities)

In order for local authorities to improve local disaster prevention capabilities, they must support the smooth execution of voluntary disaster prevention activities by local residents and other entities. They must also carry out the development and improvement of evacuation routes in coordination with the national government, local residents, NPOs, businesses, and other entities. In addition, contributions from businesses deemed necessary by the community in times of disaster must be clearly specified in advance according to disaster prevention plans and other agreements.

## (National government support for local authorities in times of disaster)

In addition to providing support for concerned government bodies, including a broad range of local authorities, through the use of helicopters and other machinery as well as telecommunications networks as disaster provisions, the national government must actively support local authorities in times of disaster, for example by helping with emergency safety checks for damaged buildings.