## (9) Strengthening the Crisis Management System

In response to natural disasters, forecasting natural phenomena that could lead to disaster (Japan Meteorological Agency), in addition to conducting inspections and emergency rehabilitation of facilities during disasters (departments in charge of facility management), and rescue operations at sea (Japan Coast Guard), there are many places with established initial response systems such as the emergency assembly of staff and the establishment of disaster measure headquarters but in light of the disaster response during the Great East Japan Earthquake, the crisis management system needs to be strengthened further. Additionally, using the equipment, manpower, expertise and other resources of MLIT and relevant organizations to support local governments stricken by disaster will be promoted more actively.

## (i) Disaster Response by TEC-FORCE (emergency disaster countermeasures detachment)

In order to respond to the occurrence or likelihood of large-scale natural disasters, the TEC-FORCE (Technical Emergency Control Force) was established in FY 2008 and is available for deployment to smoothly and rapidly implement technical support for the local government of the affected area to carry out various emergency disaster measures such as rapidly assessing the extent of the disaster, prevent expansion of damage, and rapid recovery of affected areas. In FY 2015, TEC-FORCE dispatched approximately 1,100 members rendering approximately 3,200 man-days of service to eighty-eight municipalities in twenty-three prefectures that sustained damage as a result of a number of serious weather events, including the volcanic eruption at Kuchinoerabujima Island in May, heavy rains that began on June 24, Typhoon No. 11 that struck in July, Typhoons No. 15 and 16 that struck in August, torrential rains that fell in the Kanto and Tohoku regions in September 2015, and heavy snow that fell on January 23, 2016. From the time disaster struck, technical support was provided in each case, such as by ascertaining damage conditions and preventing damage from spreading.

## (ii) Improving Business Continuity Systems

Following the ratification of the government-wide operational continuity plan (government operation continuity plan), previous undertakings of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Operational Continuity Plan (Second Edition) were followed up to create the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Operational Continuity Plan (Third Edition) on April 1, 2014. Also, the operational continuity framework is being strengthened through such measures as the stockpiling of supplies and securing support systems from other regions without awaiting orders from ministry headquarters (immediate dispatch of TEC-FORCE).

## (iii) Deploying Information and Telecommunication Systems and Machinery in Preparation for Disasters

To secure information communication systems in the event of a disaster, the MLIT headquarters, Regional Development Bureau, and related organizations are connected with a highly reliable information communication network consisting of microwave networks and optical fibers, in addition to satellite communication channels to strengthen the system for gathering information from the disaster site, are used to create a high mobility system. Also, to rapidly respond to disasters, the deployment of disaster response helicopters, satellite communication vehicles, drainage pump vehicles, illumination vehicles, and other disaster response machinery is being developed at regional development bureaus across the nation, so that in the event of a large-scale disaster, the framework will be able to execute rapid deployment.

## (iv) Implementing Practical and Wide-Area Disaster Prevention Training

Assuming the worst-case scenario that can occur, realistic and wide-area training was actively carried out including coordination with relevant organizations and wide-area dispatching of the TEC-FORCE from Regional Development Bureaus. Also, mainly in flood fighting months (particularly in May), in addition to realistic trainings in flood fighting activity conducted by flood prevention teams, integrated and realistic evacuation trainings combining together the evacuation training, information communication training, and other trainings were conducted by various organizations such as self-defense flood control organizations.

Additionally, the Great East Japan Earthquake reaffirmed the importance of coordination between relevant organizations during large-scale disasters, therefore efforts to improve and strengthen a wide-area disaster prevention framework in preparation of massive earthquakes and other large-scale disasters through the implementation of various joint exercises between multiple organizations centered around regional offices and bureaus including designated local government agencies, firefighting organizations, and the Japan Self-Defense Force is being promoted to promote initiatives to enhance