Kyushu floods test disaster preparedness during pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has been a difficult time for the entire world. In addition to the tragic death toll and number of cases, it has negatively impacted economies and has forced us to adopt stressful lifestyle changes.

Japan has thankfully handled the COVID-19 pandemic relatively well. Yet the country is still well known for its frequent natural disasters. Dealing with an infectious new virus is difficult enough in the best of circumstances. What measures have to be taken to both help victims in need and stop the spread of the novel coronavirus?

We can see an example of this with the floods in Kyushu earlier this year. The southern Japanese prefectures of Kumamoto and Kagoshima were hit with record rain and flooding. The disaster claimed 76 lives, led to the disappearances of 3 people and damaged 16,303 homes .

Victims face more complicated evacuation

Japan is well prepared for natural disasters, but COVID-19 added some complications. It is difficult to maintain social distancing and take other preventative measures in evacuation shelters. Capacity at these shelters was decreased due to the need for social distancing.

Many Kumamoto residents avoided shelters for fear of catching the virus, leading them to stay in damaged homes or their vehicles for shelter. Kagoshima City recommended that people evacuate to the homes of friends and relatives if possible.

Another issue is that volunteers from other prefectures were not allowed in order to prevent the spread of the virus. This meant there was a shortage of people who could help the victims.

That said, there were measures in place and organizations to help people in need. KVOAD (Kumamoto Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) was established after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake. It works with organizations in and outside Kumamoto to provide disaster relief for the prefecture.

Rethinking disaster response

Two months before the floods, KVOAD was already doing drills with other organizations to simulate pandemic conditions in a disaster. This included standard precautions such as masks and disinfection in evacuation shelters. Another measure was setting up cardboard beds and walls to maintain privacy and social distancing.

KVOAD, as well as the prefectural and national governments and other organizations, held frequent online meetings to discuss the disaster response. Services that were difficult to offer in person, such as legal and mental health counseling, were also provided remotely. Besides Coronavirus related measures, the online format also allowed organizations to respond more quickly to other needs. Remote meetings were used to coordinate everything from fixing damaged homes to providing supplies.

While the floods were tragic, organizations can learn important lessons that can be used if another natural disaster hits during a pandemic. The use of technology to remotely organize and coordinate the disaster response is another thing that can prove extremely useful. It allows volunteers and organizations to deal with the situation and help victims more quickly and effectively. Innovative ways to adapt to adverse circumstances can help save lives and mitigate the toll taken on victims and their communities.