The central government plans to support municipal governments in Okinawa Prefecture so they can store necessary food, blankets and emergency toilets for three years from fiscal 2019, in a bid to improve disaster preparations in the prefecture, which sees about 10 million tourists annually.
If the prefecture's harbors and airports were damaged by a severe disaster, tourists would not be able to evacuate from the prefecture until those facilities were restored.
Under a new system, the central government will provide subsidies for municipal governments to store food, drinking water, blankets and emergency toilets among other items for affected tourists. The subsidies could also be used to help set up signs indicating where to evacuate.
In its budget request for next fiscal year, the Cabinet Office has included project expenses totaling about 1 billion yen for the first fiscal year, based on the assumption that it shoulders almost all the initial costs. The percentage of the subsidies is yet to be decided.
If a huge earthquake or tsunami occurred in and around Okinawa Prefecture, the distribution hubs of Naha Airport and Naha Port would suffer severe damage, and the municipal governments would have to take care of both residents and tourists for seven to 10 days with only the resources on the island, the central government has estimated.
In fiscal 2017, about 9.58 million tourists visited the prefecture, an all-time high. According to a government source, "A considerable number of tourists could be affected."
According to a survey from the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, the stores per capita held by municipal governments in Okinawa Prefecture -- such as blankets, emergency toilets and hardtack -- are much lower than the national average. This prompted the government to decide to provide assistance.
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