The Function of Social Networks in Disaster Situations

Project Proposal: Mio Yamada 

The Function of Social Networks in Disaster Situations – 

Fukushima in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake  

(Unfortunately will not be doing this in the second half of the semester)

Background:

On March 11^th 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit 70 kilometers off the coast of Japan, followed by massive tsunami waves that reached heights of up to 40 meters. It was the biggest earthquake to ever hit Japan, and over 19,000 people lost their lives in the disaster. The crisis was further compounded by the meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant run by TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company), forcing over 83,000 people from their homes. The disaster ripped apart cities and communities, leaving deep scars on the Japanese psyche.

Reconstruction has been slow and faltering, hampered by many issues including ineffectual bureaucracy, inefficient allocation of funds, incomplete information, and also very importantly, a lack of unity among the affected communities about how they should rebuild their lives.

Fukushima was one of the prefectures that was hardest hit by the earthquake and tsunami, and is arguably still suffering the most due to the nuclear fallout. Although it was previously one of the “rice bowls” of Japan and a major agricultural region, the entire region has now been tainted by the specter of radiation. However, in order for Japan to fully recover from this disaster, the situation in Fukushima cannot be ignored and lessons must be learned for the future.

Objectives:

This study would seek to understand how social networks in Fukushima functioned during and immediately after the disaster, how they have evolved over the subsequent two years, and how they might be leveraged more effectively in the reconstruction of the region.

Key Questions:  

Some information regarding non-family groupings and community cohesion (eg identifying subgroups and key members of social networks) prior to the disaster will be required in order to establish a baseline.

1. During and immediately after the disaster: 

• Who (outside of your immediate family) did you escape with when you heard about the tsunami/nuclear meltdown? 
• Who helped you the most?
• Who did you help the most?
• How did you stay in touch with members of your community and what was your primary source of information? 

2. Longer term / post evacuation:

• Who are you regularly in contact with from your previous community? 
• Are you part of an advocacy group or involved in community activities? 
• Who is helping you the most in adjusting to your new life? 
• Who are you helping the most in adjusting to your new life? 
• How do you stay in touch with members of your community and what is your primary source of information on reconstruction?

Methodology:

Ideally, I would be able to draw on various sources in order to compile the necessary data.

-    -    In the aftermath of the disaster, Social Media was a key tool that connected people with their loved ones and allowed them to access useful information. Studies have been conducted on how sites such as Twitter and Facebook were used for this purpose, and how the government has incorporated them into planning for future disasters. They have also been instrumental in allowing people to maintain community ties and in galvanizing activism on behalf of their communities, despite the fact that many are no longer living in their former towns.

-    =   NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation (Japan’s public broadcaster) is a primary source of information during disaster situations. They also conduct regular polls on various issues, from elections to social issues, as well as people’s lives after the 2011 disaster. Most recently, they broadcast a NHK Special documentary on “Big Data – The Key to Reconstruction”, where they focused on data analytics of business networks in the region, and how economic conditions and business issues outside of the affected areas are actually impacting and delaying the reconstruction process.

I have reached out to my former colleagues at NHK to see whether they might be able to assist in this project. However, as it is, the undertaking is too large for the current timespan.

There are also limitations regarding the ongoing nature of the situation. Networks will continue to change and not all actors may be fully accounted for. The data would be more qualitative and subjective in nature rather than objective and quantitative. Nonetheless, I believe that it would be a good step in the right direction in examining the role and influence of social networks in immediate crisis situations and post-disaster reconstruction.

Conclusion:

Japan is a country of impending natural doom just by virtue of geology and geography; sooner or later, volcanoes will erupt, earthquakes will disrupt and tsunamis will wash over the lands. The nation lives with these realities, and must do its best to mitigate the circumstances. It must be examined if and how social networks can function to save the maximum number of lives, and what policies and directives can be put in place to this effect.

Regarding reconstruction, without community support and cohesion, reconstruction is not realizable in the wake of such tragedy. Governments and organizations need a better understanding of how these social networks operate in order to build consensus and drive a concerted effort towards a common goal.