2:00 PM - 2:15 PM
[SVC27-02] Efforts and Challenges in Supporting the Preparation of an Evacuation Plan for an Eruption of Fuji Volcano
Keywords:Fuji Volcano , Evacuation Plan, Evacuation Promotion Facility, Act on Special Measures for Active Volcanoes
We will talk about our efforts to support the preparation of evacuation plans in case of a volcanic eruption of Fuji volcano among the facilities in Yamanashi Prefecture. We found out several important factors including concise lecture of volcanic phenomena by researchers, exchanging opinions with various stakeholders, such as government, fire departments, and Self Defense Forces, and sharing information on practical issues in preparing evacuation plans for medical and welfare facilities to respond to volcanic eruptions.
In response to the disaster caused by the Ontake eruption in 2014, the Act on Special Measures for Active Volcanoes was amended in July 2015. Under this amendment, tourist facilities, schools, medical/welfare facilities, and others located near active volcanoes are designated by municipalities as “evacuation promotion facilities” and are required to prepare an Evacuation Plan to ensure smooth evacuation for their users. We have been supporting the preparation of evacuation plans for mountain lodges at high elevation areas of Fuji volcano.
A hazard map of Fuji volcano has been revised in March 2021. The new hazard map indicates that the population within the hazardous area during an eruption is approximately 116,000, which is about seven times of the previous assumption. In response, Basic Evacuation Plan of Fuji Volcano has also been revised and released in March 2023. Based on the new plan, many schools, medical/welfare facilities in the high-risk areas will be designated as “evacuation promotion facilities”, which need to prepare evacuation plans in the near future. Thus, the Volcanic Disaster Management Office of Yamanashi Prefecture and the Mount Fuji Research Institute held a meeting to introduce an overview of evacuation plans, and also conduct a disaster exercise for medical and welfare facilities to assist them in preparing practical plans.
The meeting on an overview of evacuation plans for the facilities were held three times in November 2023 because the facilities were divided into three groups: medical and welfare facilities, tourist facilities, and schools. Approximately 30 people attended each meeting. At first, Volcanic Disaster Management Office of Yamanashi Prefecture presented an overview of disaster prevention efforts against Fuji eruptions and revisions to laws. After that, a researcher from Mount Fuji Research Institute explained volcanic phenomena possibly occurred at Fuji volcano and a template for an evacuation plan are presented to encourage the participants to start preparing an evacuation plan. In February 2024, an exercise was held to simulate what to do in case that volcanic activities of Fuji volcano become extensive. About 40 people from medical and welfare facilities, officials of disaster prevention and welfare/health departments from municipalities, fire departments, and the Self-Defense Forces participated the exercise. They were divided into six groups to discuss how to respond to hypothetical scenarios.
In a questionnaire survey of participants, many favorable responses were obtained, such as After receiving an easy-to-understand explanation of volcanic phenomena with many photos and videos, we were able to proceed with step-by-step discussions along with specific scenarios, which helped me to understand the topic well. However, it seemed difficult to read the hazard map with various types of disaster factors, such as lava flow, pyroclastic flow, and others, assumed in Fuji volcano. Many participants also commented that the disaster exercise was highly appreciated for deepening mutual understanding through the exchange of opinions between various stakeholders. Some participants commented that the exchange of information clarified issues that need to be addressed in order to make evacuation plans more practical. We regard it important to continue support activities to promote practical evacuation planning, while utilizing the knowledge gained through our activities.
In response to the disaster caused by the Ontake eruption in 2014, the Act on Special Measures for Active Volcanoes was amended in July 2015. Under this amendment, tourist facilities, schools, medical/welfare facilities, and others located near active volcanoes are designated by municipalities as “evacuation promotion facilities” and are required to prepare an Evacuation Plan to ensure smooth evacuation for their users. We have been supporting the preparation of evacuation plans for mountain lodges at high elevation areas of Fuji volcano.
A hazard map of Fuji volcano has been revised in March 2021. The new hazard map indicates that the population within the hazardous area during an eruption is approximately 116,000, which is about seven times of the previous assumption. In response, Basic Evacuation Plan of Fuji Volcano has also been revised and released in March 2023. Based on the new plan, many schools, medical/welfare facilities in the high-risk areas will be designated as “evacuation promotion facilities”, which need to prepare evacuation plans in the near future. Thus, the Volcanic Disaster Management Office of Yamanashi Prefecture and the Mount Fuji Research Institute held a meeting to introduce an overview of evacuation plans, and also conduct a disaster exercise for medical and welfare facilities to assist them in preparing practical plans.
The meeting on an overview of evacuation plans for the facilities were held three times in November 2023 because the facilities were divided into three groups: medical and welfare facilities, tourist facilities, and schools. Approximately 30 people attended each meeting. At first, Volcanic Disaster Management Office of Yamanashi Prefecture presented an overview of disaster prevention efforts against Fuji eruptions and revisions to laws. After that, a researcher from Mount Fuji Research Institute explained volcanic phenomena possibly occurred at Fuji volcano and a template for an evacuation plan are presented to encourage the participants to start preparing an evacuation plan. In February 2024, an exercise was held to simulate what to do in case that volcanic activities of Fuji volcano become extensive. About 40 people from medical and welfare facilities, officials of disaster prevention and welfare/health departments from municipalities, fire departments, and the Self-Defense Forces participated the exercise. They were divided into six groups to discuss how to respond to hypothetical scenarios.
In a questionnaire survey of participants, many favorable responses were obtained, such as After receiving an easy-to-understand explanation of volcanic phenomena with many photos and videos, we were able to proceed with step-by-step discussions along with specific scenarios, which helped me to understand the topic well. However, it seemed difficult to read the hazard map with various types of disaster factors, such as lava flow, pyroclastic flow, and others, assumed in Fuji volcano. Many participants also commented that the disaster exercise was highly appreciated for deepening mutual understanding through the exchange of opinions between various stakeholders. Some participants commented that the exchange of information clarified issues that need to be addressed in order to make evacuation plans more practical. We regard it important to continue support activities to promote practical evacuation planning, while utilizing the knowledge gained through our activities.