A Methodology of Workshops to Explore Mutual Assistance Activities for Earthquake Disaster Mitigation

To minimize the damage caused by large earthquakes, mutual assistance activities between residents and rescue victims (i.e., to support residents who cannot evacuate individually) are important. To enhance these activities, the technologies and methods for creating a Community Disaster Management Plan (CDMP), based on the quantitative evaluation of mutual assistance abilities, are required. However, the lack of a method for it is a key issue. This study aims to develop a methodology of workshops for making CDMPs by using the developed support tool by the authors to explore and promote mutual assistance activities. Through the demonstration and examination of a Community Disaster Management Plan on actual districts, the findings mentioned in this article were obtained. Moreover, the usability of this method is shown. In particular, this method is effective at revising CDMPs, and raising resident awareness on the importance of mutual assistance. The suggested method can also improve the lack of techniques involved in promoting mutual assistance.