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On December 17, 2020, the Prime Minister held the first Ministerial Meeting on the Heavy Snow at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
Following the discussion, the Prime Minister said,

"The recent heavy snow has left an enormous number of vehicles stranded on the Kan-Etsu expressway and other locations, cut off communities, and caused suspensions of train services and blackouts.

The Government of Japan has established an emergency response office and is making every effort to rescue stranded vehicles and ensure the health of those caught in the standstill through close collaboration with local governments, Nippon Expressway Company, and others. The governor of Niigata has requested the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces in response to a natural disaster and we are preparing to send a unit. It has been decided that the Disaster Relief Act will be applied to the city of Minami-uonuma and the town of Yuzawa, both in Niigata Prefecture.

In 2018, record-breaking heavy snow in Fukui caused significant damage, including massive traffic disruptions with vehicles stranded for more than two days and some people losing their lives. We are now in the season of heavy snows. I ask all of you to continue to act in collaboration with local governments and fully prepare for emergencies.

I ask citizens to remain sufficiently vigilant against dangers caused by heavy snow such as traffic disruptions and damages to facilities as well as snow dropping off roofs and avalanches. They should also make necessary preparations in advance and pay attention to the latest weather information and road traffic updates."