A survey of impact on industrial parks caused by the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami

Abstract : During the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (GEJET), many industrial facilities were affected to different extents by the earthquake and/or tsunami. Damages and reasons for hazardous materials releases were reported by former studies. This paper provides further details concerning the impact of GEJET, by the data collected from a series of field visits, interviews and mail surveys. In this study, we report the facility damage and economic losses, the performance of safety and mitigation measures, the emergency preparedness and response to the chemical releases triggered by earthquake and/or tsunami, and changes to preparedness practices at the facilities after experiencing the GEJET. Recommendations are proposed at the end when compared to previous studies in the literature.