Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda held a meeting of the Central Disaster Prevention Council at the Prime Minister's Office.

At the meeting, decisions were made on the revision of the Basic Disaster Management Plan, the Guidelines of the Countermeasures against Large-scale Floods in the Metropolitan Area, and the promotion of new earthquake research.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address, "It has been one and a half years since the occurrence of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Even during this period, natural disasters, such as typhoons and heavy rains, caused damage. I would like to offer my deepest condolences and sympathy to the victims of these disasters and people suffering from damage.
Recently, it has been revealed anew that the possible occurrence of a massive earthquake in the Nankai Trough could cause far more devastating damage beyond the estimations made heretofore. It is indispensable to strengthen concrete countermeasures promptly in preparation for a disaster beyond our assumptions.
Today, I would like you to have active discussions on the review of the Basic Disaster Management Plan, with the aim of strengthening countermeasures against large-scale, wide-area disasters and nuclear disasters, based on what we have learned from the Great East Japan Earthquake. Furthermore, I expect that discussions will also take place with regard to the establishment of the Guidelines of the Countermeasures against Large-scale Floods in the Metropolitan Area, and other matters.