Basic Policy for the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Reconstruction Efforts

1　Aim and Purpose

This document will make clear the basic policies the prefecture has in place for the reconstruction efforts following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. It will describe emergency actions the prefecture must take, as well as a reconstruction vision and policy plan that will act as a blueprint for the future of the affected regions.

2　Two Fundamental Principles Backing These Policies

The following two fundamental principles will be the basis for all policies and actions the prefecture takes.

• We will ensure humane living situations, education and jobs for survivors, and guarantee the right to the pursuit of happiness.
• We will inherit the hopes and dreams the victims had for their hometowns.

3　Description of Emergency Response

Our top priorities are searching for the missing, supporting the survivors and helping people return to their previous standards of living. Our emergency response efforts are listed below.

1　Prefectural Relief Efforts

• Search for the Missing
• Support Survivors
  • Support the management of shelters and refuge centers
  • Take temporary refuge inland
  • Build emergency temporary housing etc.
• Restore Lifeline Utilities
  • Prompt restoration of electricity, gas, water, transportation and communication networks
  • Stable distribution of necessary goods for daily life
  • Secure fuel etc.
• Dispatch Personnel to Support Affected Municipalities
  • Support the restoration of government and administrative functions
  • Support the creation of emergency stopgap measures etc.
• Set Up a Health and Medical Services Distribution Structure
  • Set up emergency medical procedures and structures
  • Distribute drugs and medicine
  • Dispatch providers of medical and nursing services
  • Take measures to prevent the spread of disease and to promote the health and hygiene of survivors
  • Support people who need care such as the elderly and disabled etc.
• Disposal of Disaster Debris
  • Prompt disposal of disaster debris left within towns and bays
• Infrastructure for the Restoration of Industry and Employment
  • Support the finances of affected businesses
  • Adjust the consultation structure aimed at small to medium sized business owners
  • Sustain employment in affected regions through employment security funds etc.
• Prompt Restoration of Basic Functions for the Reconstruction of Fisheries and Other Industries
  • Investigation of damage and emergency response to facilities in the agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries
  • Support the prompt restoration of function to fisherman’s cooperative associations
  • Support producers who have lost their infrastructure etc.
• Prompt Restoration of Public Works Facilities
  • Investigation of damage and status of facilities
  • Emergency response towards public works facilities such as roads, ports and sewage treatment plants etc.
• Restoration of Education Environment
  • Re-open schools in affected areas
  • Support the mental care of young children and students in affected areas etc

2　Requests to the National Government

• Intensify Prompt Rescue and Relief Efforts for Survivors
• Restore Lifeline Utilities
  • Stable distribution of goods necessary to daily life such as gasoline
  • Comprehensive support for citizens’ daily lives
  • Intensify efforts to make the region safer etc.
• Personnel Dispatch and Financial Support for Affected Municipalities
• Medical Services and Welfare
  • Secure the medical system and promptly restore medical and social welfare facilities
  • Create a temporary special subsidy system for the restoration of regional medical services within affected areas
  • Support of distribution of drugs and medicine to shelters etc.
• Disaster Debris
  • Prompt disposal of disaster debris along with securement of full-scale support
• Regional Industry
  • Prompt restoration of industrial facilities and support of continuing business
  • Construct and lease out temporary factories, along with rent subsidies for usage of privately plants-for-rent
  • Temporary support of proper fund management along with the creation of a special lending system（no interest/interest subsidies）
  • Creation of a large-scale support structure to aid the continuing performance of regional industry affected by the disaster etc.
• Fisheries and Other Industries
  • Gradual simultaneous reconstruction of fishing, distribution and processing operations
  • Living allowances for workers in the fisheries industry
  • Smooth reconstruction of aquaculture industries and fisheries with fisheries cooperatives at the forefront
  • Restoration and reconstruction of fishery infrastructure
  • Emergency response regarding the restoration of agricultural land and damaged livestock industries
  • Emergency response for lumber distribution networks etc.
• Support the Prompt Restoration of Public Facilities such as Roads and Ports
• Restoration of Education Environment
  • Support affected schools
  • Establish education in shelters
  • Support young students who fear losing their way of life etc.
• Expand efforts to create local fiscal measures regarding disaster reconstruction

4　Creation of a Reconstruction Vision and Plan

（1）Aim and Purpose

The reconstruction vision and plan will allow the prefecture to carry out reconstruction efforts with a comprehensive and effective approach in a variety of areas. It will also create guidelines for the national, prefectural and municipal governments to act as one with the social organizations that make up our regional community, such as businesses, NPOs and Iwate citizens.

（2）Reconstruction Vision and Plan

• The reconstruction vision will be established as a basic philosophy towards reconstruction and as an outline of prefectural response actions.
• The reconstruction plan will be established to concretely describe reconstruction measures, policies and actions along with a progress schedule.
• Both the vision and the plan will be created under the supervision of the Iwate Prefecture Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami Reconstruction Committee（from here on, the Committee）. It will also take into account the opinions and suggestions of experts, researchers, related municipalities and Iwate citizens, particularly survivors.
• Reconstruction will take a long time. The reconstruction vision and plan will therefore be assumed to span a medium to long-term period pending the opinions of the Committee.

（3）Description of Reconstruction Efforts

Presumed reconstruction efforts are written below but specific details will be decided taking into account the opinions of the Committee. Additionally, there may be additions or changes.

1. Support the Administrative Function of Municipal Governments
   • Support the creation of reconstruction plans by affected municipalities
   • Support the restoration of survivors’ standard of living
   • Provide housing for survivors with consideration for reconstruction phase
   • Support the maintenance and restoration of regional communities etc.
2. Town Development
   • Promote the development of towns strong against natural disasters from a hard and soft perspective
   • Promote the development of towns based on the hopes and dreams the victims had for their hometowns
   • Set up and restore disaster preventative infrastructure
   • Create a wider road network that connects regions etc.
3. Fisheries and Other Industries
   • Restoration of function to fisheries cooperatives
   • Reconstruction of fishery facilities（including individually-owned facilities）, fishing operations and distribution and processing industries.
   • Restoration of agricultural and forestry industry infrastructure etc.
4. Schools and Education
   • Restoration of a singular learning environment made of schools, homes and communities
   • Mental care of young students
   • Restart cultural and sports activities within schools and communities etc.
5. Medical Services and Welfare
   • Set up health, medical and welfare structures, coordinating with town development efforts
   • Reconstruction of welfare communities
   • Mental care for survivors etc.
6. Economy, Industry and Employment
   • Support for business reconstruction and the continuing performance of regional industry
   • Reconstruction of specialized regional manufacturing industry and creation of economic and industrial infrastructure
   • Creation of new industries through the support of science, technology and business ventures
   • Secure employment for unemployed survivors etc.
7. Tourism
   • Restore tourism facilities
   • Combat damages to reputation
   • Develop new tourism resources
   • Make appeals to the public and restore previous crowd levels etc.

5　Set Up Framework for Reconstruction

• There will be a special coordinating organization established within the prefectural government office to accelerate reconstruction efforts.
• While we will give special consideration to necessary government services throughout the prefecture, there will be a shift to a stricter selection of focus on reconstruction projects.

6　Coordinating at the National Level

The reconstruction efforts throughout the Tohoku region, including Iwate Prefecture, are connected to the prosperity of the entire country. Therefore, the national government is expected to carry out proactive support of reconstruction efforts while coordinating with other prefectures and municipalities. We can also expect the government to take a central role in reconstruction efforts as a national project, including nationally run initiatives.