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Establishing and Operating Welfare Shelters in the Aftermath of the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake: A Case Study of Adaptive Management for Vulnerable Populations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 June 2025

Makoto Kosaka ,
Chika Yamamoto ,
Kazuko Ishikawa ,
Etsuko Nakamura ,
Momoka Yamamura ,
Ryo Ikeguchi ,
Yoshitaka Nishikawa ,
Toshiki Abe Open the ORCID record for Toshiki Abe [Opens in a new window] ,
Tianchen Zhao  and
Michioki Endo Open the ORCID record for Michioki Endo [Opens in a new window]
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Makoto Kosaka
Affiliation:
Orange Home-Care Clinic, Fukui City, Fukui, Japan Department of Radiation Health Management, https://ror.org/012eh0r35Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
Chika Yamamoto
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Health Management, https://ror.org/012eh0r35Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
Kazuko Ishikawa
Affiliation:
Grundtvig, Fujisawa City, Kanagawa, Japan
Etsuko Nakamura
Affiliation:
Liberta Noto, Ishikawa, Japan
Momoka Yamamura
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Health Management, https://ror.org/012eh0r35Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
Ryo Ikeguchi
Affiliation:
Katsuyama Orange Clinic, Katsuyama, Japan
Yoshitaka Nishikawa
Affiliation:
Kyoto University School of Public Health, Kyoto, Japan
Toshiki Abe
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Health Management, https://ror.org/012eh0r35Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
Tianchen Zhao
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Health Management, https://ror.org/012eh0r35Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
Michioki Endo
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, https://ror.org/00w1fsg08Hyogo Prefectural Awaji Medical Center, Hyogo, Japan
Toyoaki Sawano
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, https://ror.org/05xya7b65Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, Fukushima, Japan
Nobuaki Moriyama
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, https://ror.org/012eh0r35Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
Akihiko Ozaki*
Affiliation:
Breast and Thyroid Center, https://ror.org/05xya7b65Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, Fukushima, Japan
Masaharu Tsubokura
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Health Management, https://ror.org/012eh0r35Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
Hiroyuki Beniya
Affiliation:
Orange Home-Care Clinic, Fukui City, Fukui, Japan
*
Corresponding author: Akihiko Ozaki, Email: ozakiakihiko@gmail.com
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Abstract

Objectives

Disasters disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, necessitating specialized support through welfare shelters, which offer tailored care for those with special needs. Despite their importance, comprehensive reporting on welfare shelter operations during disasters remains limited. This study aimed to analyze the establishment and operation of a welfare shelter in Wajima City, Japan, following the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, providing insights into operational processes.

Methods

The research presents a first-hand narrative account of a welfare shelter’s operation over a 3-month period. The authors, directly involved in key roles, structured the narrative around 3 phases: Initial (January 1-7, 2024), Operational (January 8-March 31, 2024), and Withdrawal (March-April 2024).

Results

Key findings include challenges in personnel management and resource procurement during the initial phase, implementation of continuous care systems and health management in the operational phase, and difficulties in securing relocation sites for evacuees during the withdrawal phase. Challenges in maintaining nutritional balance and managing infectious diseases were observed throughout the shelter’s operation. Implementing flexible staffing strategies may serve as a practical means to support sustained welfare shelter management.

Conclusions

This case study highlights the importance of pre-disaster planning, broad regional collaboration, and adaptability and continuity in welfare shelter management. The study offers valuable lessons for improving welfare shelter operations and emphasizes the need for comprehensive disaster preparedness strategies including long-term care and relocation planning for vulnerable populations.

Keywords

natural disasters2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquakeoperating shelterwelfare evacuation shelter
Type
Brief Report
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 19 , 2025 , e148
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc

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