Building an evacuation center management model for public sports facilities during disasters

Following devastating natural disasters such as earthquakes, storms and wildfires, focused and coordinated rescue and rehabilitation is required, along with clean up and reconstruction efforts. This requires the input of multiple stakeholders, all working to manage and mitigate the impact on a community. Japan is a country that is prone to natural disasters and, therefore, an efficient, organised system for dealing with these often catastrophic events is key to reducing morbidity and mortality. Dr Ryoko Akiyoshi, School of Physical Education, Tokai University, Japan, experienced the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995 as a child. Now, she is interested in how public sports facilities can act as emergency evacuation centres during natural disasters and how they can better prepare to support their local communities in times of crises. She is also exploring how exercise can help survivors process the trauma they have experienced. In her current study, Akiyoshi is looking at the responsibilities of the designated manager system in how local government and private businesses operate and manage public facilities. She is working to clarify the division of roles at public sports facilities during disasters and develop an appropriate evacuation centre management model. The goal of the work is to improve the quality of life in evacuation centres at public sports facilities, help evacuees recover from natural disasters and give them hope for the future. A key element of facilities’ ability to effectively help evacuees is safety and the need for them to understand and prepare according to the Sphere Standard.