DRI sets up “designated research projects” in order to work flexibly and efficiently on specific research themes, such as in-depth study on major research themes and development of related peripheral areas. A team comprising some or all full-time researchers will work on each such project for a limited period.

1．Research relating to Hurricane Katrina in the United States

Hurricane Katrina, which struck the U.S. Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, submerged approximately 80 percent of downtown New Orleans. High winds, heavy rain and storm surge from Hurricane Katrina inflicted extensive property damage to Louisiana and Mississippi. In terms of total economic damage, Hurricane Katrina represents the largest natural disaster in U.S. history. In March 2006, DRI dispatched a field survey team to affected areas to investigate the damage and conduct interviews with local government staff regarding emergency response activities. In the FY 2006 designated research project, we conducted research relating to Hurricane Katrina from various perspectives, including the disaster responses of local governments and inter-organizational cooperation; disaster prevention administration system; disaster response-related information; urban infrastructure (water supply) and disaster wastes. Detailed analysis of extensive support provided to the local governments of the affected areas, disaster response activities carried out by local governments and failures in disaster response will provide valuable information for formulating and implementing disaster mitigation measures in Japan. In particular, studies from various aspects, including cooperation among multiple organizations, necessary information for disaster response and urban infrastructure, will provide important insights for the development of effective response measures for large-scale disasters such as the Tokai, Tonankai and Nankai earthquakes that are expected in the near future. Concrete research themes （１）Disaster response system that enables inter-organizational cooperation （２）Disaster reduction administrative system in the United States （３）Organization/classification of disaster response-related information （４）Measures to mitigate urban infrastructure damage in super-wide-area urban disasters Areas damaged by Hurricane Katrina

2．Development and propagation of local government disaster-reduction programs, aimed at strengthening the disaster-reduction capability of local society

DRI will make strategic plans together with staff members from 7 prefectural governments (Hyogo, Osaka, Nara, Wakayama, Mie, Kyoto and Shiga) and 3 government-ordinance-designated cities (Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto), as well as with young researchers and specialists, concerning matters for which society should prepare from a long-term perspective of about 30 years, for the expected Tonankai-Nankai Earthquakes. DRI will prepare a strategic plan showing what society should do and in what ways, including concrete examples, regarding the anticipated Tokai, Tonankai and Nankai Earthquakes. This plan is expected to be put to practical use as (1) the standard for the strategic plans to be formulated by individual local governments and main constituents carrying out policy, (2) the strategic plan to be carried out concerning wide-area measures, (3) a summary of new research needs for researchers. Also, through the process of preparing the plan, members who have participated in its preparation are expected to develop strategic reasoning (or problem-solving reasoning) to help develop a human resources training curriculum. This project is commissioned by the Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, as the “Special Project for Earthquake Disaster Mitigation in Urban Areas (DDT),” Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). The following 8 strategic themes are presently under study. (1) Estimation of damage to social capital caused by strong seismic motion with fairly long-period waves, and establishment of control measures against such damage (2) Development of strategies for promoting earthquake-resistant housing (3) Establishment of cooperative systems in view of wide-area disasters (4) Proposal for comprehensive tsunami evacuation measures, including those for evacuating people who require support (5) Development of an information system that enables effective emergency response (6) Establishment of strategic plan from long-term perspective, and promotion of disaster reduction projects (7) Proposal of ideal means of disaster reduction in view of the restoration of mountainous rural areas and smaller cities (8) Optimal recovery and reconstruction strategies for multiple earthquake disasters occurring one after another

3．Understanding of housing damage due to flood disaster and recovery / reconstruction processes

Local heavy rains and typhoons have intensified in recent years, with massive earthquakes expected to occur with high probability in the Tokai, Tonankai and Nankai regions in the near future. Under these circumstances it is increasingly important to reduce damage from urban flooding caused by heavy rains and typhoons, as well as possible tsunami caused by Tokai/Tonankai/Nankai Earthquakes. The severe flooding in Nakanoshima Town in 2004, which occurred due to heavy rainfall that hit Niigata Prefecture, highlighted the fact that urban areas are vulnerable to the overflow of small and medium rivers, leading local governments throughout Japan to develop hazard maps and measures to support the evacuation of those requiring assistance. Housing damage caused by the disaster has substantially affected residents in various ways. In this research we will analyze urban flood disasters, with a focus on housing damage, based on past surveys regarding flood disasters, including the flooding in Nakanoshima Town. First, we will examine the correlation between degree of physical damage to houses and the flow of water and attributes of residents, and will draw generalizations that can be applied to other areas. We will then identify problems associated with the damage assessment process that is carried out prior to issuance of the “Disaster Victim Certificate,” which is required in order to apply for disaster recovery assistance, and discuss improvements to be made. It is considered that the types and amount of work required to restore damaged dwellings to a habitable state, when such work is performed, and the extent to which support worker (volunteer etc.) activities in helping disaster victims are affected by such factors as degree of damage and resident attributes; we will clarify factors influencing housing reconstruction process after disaster. We believe that examining and clarifying factors and mechanisms that influence housing damage and reconstruction processes after disaster - from disaster occurrence to disaster relief and the recovery phase - will yield valuable findings concerning the mitigation of physical damage to houses and speedy reconstruction. These findings will enable us to predict which houses are likely to suffer major damage and which will likely present more difficulties in restoration, and to prepare for effective response to disaster.

The characteristics of disaster response operations differ from those of ordinary local government administrative work; as well, a wide-range of specialized knowledge and skills are required of officials in charge of disaster management. It is therefore necessary to provide training for local government staff in charge of disaster management, to help them acquire the necessary levels of competence. Currently, a number of organizations offer various disaster-response training programs for local government staff. From this year forward, DRI will conduct training courses under a new curriculum structure developed on the basis of experience gained from previous years. However, there are various problems in relation to training; for example, the effects of lectures, seminars and other activities that comprise each course are unclear; and methods have not been established for evaluating the effectiveness of training. It is therefore difficult to evaluate the knowledge and skills the trainees have acquired through the DRI curriculum. To evaluate human resource development methods objectively, it is necessary to study techniques for designing the training curriculum and to establish a system that enables continuous measurement of training effectiveness. In this research we will consider what training curriculum is ideal for disaster management staff of local governments. Specifically, we will clarify the knowledge and skills that can be acquired in each course of DRI’s professional training on disaster management. For the management course, we will develop a methodology for evaluating the effectiveness of training content; for short-term training programs such as the intensive course, we will examine methods for designing training curriculum for disaster management staff.