Japan Special Needs Evacuation Plan

2005

The 'Japan Special Needs Evacuation Plan' is an Individual Evacuation Plan designed for individuals with special needs who require evacuation assistance, and it is a supplement to the general evacuation plan. Due to the high incidence of natural hazards and a change in the official regulations in 2021, Japanese welfare institutions must make individual evacuation plans for persons needing support during an evacuation. The first step is to identify people needing special evacuation assistance, such lists are mandatory for Japanese municipalities. In the next step, a professional social worker assesses the functional needs of the person. After that, there is a coordination meeting with the client and all relevant actors like family members as well, welfare professionals, administrative staff, NGOs, and neighbours as evacuation supporters. Together they plan who can do what to help in case of an evacuation. After the individual evacuation plan has been drafted it is verified through inclusive evacuation drills and can then be adapted or adopted. This solution not only helps people who need assistance during an evacuation but also enables personal relationships to be built between residents with and without disabilities.