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On October 17, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the seventh meeting of the Emergency Response Headquarters for Typhoon No. 19* of 2019 at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
 
“Today, together with Minister of State for Disaster Management Takeda, I visited several sites affected by the disaster in Fukushima Prefecture and Miyagi Prefecture, and witnessed with my own eyes the immense damage left by the recent typhoon, such as the overflowing of the Abukuma River and Yoshida River and the widespread flooding caused by them as well as the landslides. I also met with those affected by disaster, who are facing uneasy and challenging times at the evacuation centers, and heard from them their hardship and struggles in this cold weather, as well as their requests regarding their daily lives going forward. When I saw not only the people in the disaster-affected areas, but also the local government staff and volunteers that extend support to them, I renewed my determination to do everything our country can do for those who have been affected.
 
I ask everyone to swiftly ascertain the continuously changing needs of the affected areas and respond immediately.
 
In both Fukushima and Miyagi, which I visited today, those who affected by the disaster are busy disposing of furniture and other belongings covered in mud. The roadside is already packed with waste, and we expect a massive amount to be further generated by the weekend. In addition, it is also expected that, in some cases where disaster victims have lost their personal vehicles to flooding, they cannot bring their disaster waste to the temporary waste collection sites by themselves.
 
In order to prevent disaster waste, soil and sand, and other debris from having an impact on the living environment of the local residents, we will advance the waste removal and relevant efforts by the Self-Defense Forces. While 1,400 personnel, as well as 90 heavy vehicles and trucks, have already begun working in the affected areas, we will further strengthen our efforts to meet the needs of the local governments affected by this disaster. Obtaining the support from local governments and relevant organizations nationwide, we have secured 70 waste collection vehicles from across the country, and are sending them to the affected areas one after another. As there are areas where waste incineration plants have suffered flood damage, I ask the Ministry of the Environment to lead efforts to proactively secure regional cooperation for waste disposal. Additionally, tomorrow, we will designate the recent disaster as a ‘specified disaster’ with a Cabinet decision to protect the rights of the affected people and support initiatives to help them rebuild their lives. This will, among other benefits, allow those who cannot renew their driver’s license to extend its expiration date, and exempt them from conciliation fees required under the Civil Conciliation Act. It will also allow the affected people to receive free legal services for various legal issues that arise in the aftermath of a disaster.
 
Heavy rains are expected to pound once more in the disaster-affected areas tonight and over the next two days. It is important to be fully vigilant of secondary disasters, and accelerate restoration. The Government has dispatched the Team to Support the Daily Lives of Disaster Victims made up of 354 government staff, as well as 133 staff gathered from 20 local governments, and they are already assisting with the administrative work such as restoration and reconstruction activities, and the issuance of Disaster Victim Certificates.
 
I ask you to continue to focus on local communities, and to do everything you can to support the disaster victims in rebuilding their lives.”
 
*Typhoon Hagibis