Third Sector for Disaster Prevention:Case of Great East Japan Earthquake

Third Sector for Disaster Prevention:Case of Great East Japan Earthquake

The objective of this study is to analyze the ability for community oriented voluntary organizations and non-profit organizations which responded to Great East Japan Earthquake, 2011. In order to investigate this, we evaluated their level of activity by two criteria: First, the utility of the existing disaster prevention plan and second, the level of cooperation with the local government. The results indicate that existing disaster prevention plans could not be sufficient as they were rendered ineffective due to downsizing of administrations resulting in drawbacks such as personal cuts. In other cases regional cooperation has been smooth and orderly in situations in which residents engaged in community activities. We suggest that social enterprise as a complex of for profit and non-profit organizations has the potential to develop not only various kinds of community activities but may also help in areas such as disaster prevention.