Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� December, 2003

The Ninth Central Disaster Prevention Council Tuesday, December 16, 2003 The Ninth Central Disaster Prevention Council was held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. At the meeting, decision was made and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi accordingly received a report on the "Designation of Regions for the Promotion of Disaster Prevention Measures for Tonankai and Nankai Earthquakes." This report listed 652 municipalities in 21 prefectures as regions that need to promote disaster prevention measures in preparation for Tonankai and Nankai earthquakes. The Government, in receiving this report, will designate regions for the promotion of disaster prevention measures to be taken for Tonankai and Nankai earthquakes. Furthermore, decision was also made on the "Guidelines of Disaster Prevention Measures for Tonankai and Nankai Earthquakes", the master plan for the Tonankai and Nankai earthquakes which includes a wide range of measures from disaster prevention to restoration and reconstruction. These Guidelines are to formulate the basic principles of a measure that would match Disaster Prevention Measures for Tokai earthquakes. Based on these Guidelines, the Central Disaster Prevention Council will compile the basic plan for the promotion of disaster prevention measures to be taken for Tonankai and Nankai earthquakes. On closing the meeting, Prime Minister Koizumi said, "This year, we have suffered from various disasters, including the earthquakes in Miyagi Prefecture and Hokkaido. We should take advantage of the lessons we have acquired from these experiences and need to work to predict disasters and minimize damages. I want the Government, local governments, regions and volunteer groups to work cooperatively to promote comprehensive disaster prevention measures."