With the early restoration of lifeline services, the majority of evacuees were able to return to their homes or move to temporary housing facilities, but evacuation shelters opened under the Disaster Relief Law remained open for seven months, until August 20. The extended occupancy of the evacuation shelters caused an array of problems. Special preparations had to be made for winter weather, and then for monsoon and summer weather. Extended evacuation shelter living was extremely hard on elderly and disabled evacuees. Electricity is restored.
Water service is restored.
1995 Apr. 1 JR Kobe line is fully functional. 1995 Apr. 11 City gas is restored. Victim identification certificates were issued to ascertain the circumstances of the vast number of earthquake victims and to provide appropriate and timely disaster relief. On-site surveys entailed an enormous amount of work, but they were carried out with the help of local government workers from around the nation. Day after day the city workers were astounded by the long lines of earthquake victims that lined up in front of the ward offices.