Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, Japan 2. Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, Japan 3

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1 A Survey on Emergency Disaster Recovery by Local Construction Companies in Kyushu Region - A Case Study of Torrential Rain in Northern Kyushu in July 0 - Noriyasu Kachi, Ryosuke Kajimoto, Tetsumasa Tanaka, and Kenichi Tsukahara Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, Japan Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, Japan Tanako Kougyou Co., Ltd., Japan Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, Japan Corresponding kachi@doc.kyushu-u.ac.jp Abstract Local construction companies are indispensable because of their role in the initial response in the event of a disaster; therefore, it is important to build and promote an efficient and functional collaboration between municipalities and local construction companies for the smooth implementation of disaster response []. However, local construction companies have been considerably affected because of the reduction in public investment coupled with intense price competition in bidding. In order to ensure the survival of these local construction companies and to maintain their cooperation, an objective assessment of their actual disaster response situation is required. Hence, in this study, we have focused on the restoration activities conducted after the disaster in northern Kyushu due to the heavy rains in July 0. While trying to understand the actual disaster response situation of the local construction companies through a questionnaire survey, we have outlined the future challenges in securing and maintaining the regional disaster prevention function through cooperation between companies and local governments. Keywords: emergency disaster recovery, local construction company, Northern Kyushu Heavy Rainfall. Introduction The local construction companies that operate closely with the regional community form a key industry that plays a major role in supporting the local economy and creating employment. From the perspective of prevention of regional disasters, they exercise maximum mobility during the initial response in the event of a disaster and are an important force in implementing disaster recovery measures. In particular, in the Kyushu region, which is prone to frequent typhoons and torrential rains, it is imperative that the municipality and local construction companies work hand in hand in order to carry out emergency response activities quickly and smoothly. It must be noted that by local construction companies we mean those companies that have established headquarters in each area of Kyushu and have an activity base in that area. On the other hand, the reduction in public works spending had an enormous impact, and now there is a drastic lack in the supply-demand balance of public works projects. This has resulted in excessive price competition in the bidding, leading to the deterioration of the financial condition of companies and posing a threat to their survival. Therefore, in order to secure the continued cooperation of these companies that are essential to the region, a clear and objective evaluation of the actual status of their disaster preparedness is an urgent necessity. Establishing such an evaluation method calls for an understanding of the current situation and clarification of the idea of the image sought by the companies. In this study, we focused on the restoration activities carried out in northern Kyushu after the disaster due to the heavy rains in July 0. While trying to grasp the actual disaster response situation of the local construction companies through a questionnaire survey, we outlined the future challenges in securing and maintaining the regional disaster prevention function through cooperation between the companies and local governments. In addition to investigating the existence of a disaster agreement and the initial response to disaster emergency recovery, the questionnaire survey in this study examined the following factors with regard to the local construction companies: the benefits to the company in dispatching disaster emergency relief, how the company is affected by dispatching such relief, whether the company is satisfied with the settlement amount after the emergency restoration, the

2 manner of recognition of the company s role in the emergency recovery operations, etc.. The Survey on the Actual Disaster Response Situation of Local Construction Companies In order to understand the actual disaster response situation of the local construction companies in the Kyushu region, we carried out a survey focusing on the companies that had helped cope with the heavy rain disaster that occurred in July 0 in northern Kyushu; we considered these companies from the viewpoints of the cooperative efforts made during the disaster emergency and their intention and desire to maintain the regional disaster prevention facility in future. The questionnaire is described in Table. The torrential rain in Northern Kyushu caused severe damage over a wide area. Within the affected region, we investigated district of Fukuoka Prefecture and district in the Kumamoto Prefecture where the damage was the most severe. The survey targets numbered a total of local construction companies affiliated to the industry associations in the surveyed districts. Of these, 7 companies were affiliated to the Branch of the Fukuoka Prefecture Civil Federation and 9 companies were affiliated to the Branch of the Kumamoto Prefecture Construction Association. We solicited the cooperation of the Branch of the Fukuoka Prefecture Civil Union Federation and the Branch of the Kumamoto Prefecture Construction Association in carrying out the survey by explaining its purpose and contents to them before distributing the questionnaire to the member companies. Thereafter, the Branch and the Branch distributed the questionnaires among the member companies and collected them back by mail during the period September to October 0. This advance preparation enabled us to gain the cooperation of the member companies with respect to the present survey through the respective branches.. Results of the Questionnaire Survey Since we obtained responses from all the surveyed companies, we believe that the survey has been useful in collecting valuable information to help understand the activities of the local construction companies during disaster response. The data thus collected have been classified and are shown below. Table. Description of the questionnaire Item Content To understand the actual disaster response situation in the local construc- Purpose tion industry in Kyushu region District in Fukuoka Prefecture District and District in Kumamoto Prefecture Total number of local construction companies:, Members of the Fukuoka Prefecture Civil Union Federation Branch: 7 companies, Targets Members of the Kumamoto Prefecture Construction Association Branch: 9 companies Period September October 0 Questionnaire survey (Distributed and Method collected by mail after prior explanation, etc.) About disaster agreement (Existence of disaster agreement membership, Reasons for membership in disaster agreement, Agreement information) About initial response (Whether disaster (relief) mobilization was done, Disaster response of the request source, Time taken to dispatch disaster relief) About disaster emergency recovery activities (How the scope of response was determined, Whether the disaster Content emergency recovery work proceeded smoothly, Challenges in the progress of restoration work) About the impact of post-disaster response (Benefit from mobilization, Impact of mobilization, Level of satisfaction with settlement amount after disaster emergency restoration) Impressions about participation in disaster emergency restoration activities (Nature of the role played, Independent opinion) () Disaster agreement The membership status of the surveyed local construction companies to the disaster agreement is presented in Table. Table. Disaster agreement membership District Members Non members 7 companies (97%) 9 companies (00%) companies (%) 0 companies (0%)

3 We found that 7 out of 7 companies in district, which is 97% of the companies surveyed, have joined the agreement, and that all 9 companies in district are members. The reasons given by the member companies for joining the disaster agreement are indicated in Figure. The fact that most companies in both districts have mentioned regional contribution as a reason suggests that there is shared awareness among the companies about their social role in building a cooperative system for disaster response. Further, % of the companies mentioned adds points to overall rating as a reason, indicating that it works as an incentive in the corporate evaluation at the time of bidding. Further, about 0 7% of the companies stated other companies have also joined or privilege of participating in restoration activities as reasons. Regional contribution Adds points to overall rating Other companies are also members Privilege of participating in restoration activities 7.% 0.%.0%.%.7%.7% N = 7 9.% 9.9% Figure. Reasons for joining the disaster agreement (multiple answers) The various government agencies with which the companies have entered into disaster agreement are shown in Figure. It is seen that the number of local construction companies that have entered into a disaster agreement with the agencies that are least at the prefectural or municipal level exceeds 90% of the total number ( district: about 9%, district: about 9%). Moreover, nearly 70% of the total number of companies has a disaster agreement with more than one agency. According to the keynote article of Kumamoto Prefectural Construction Association Branch, (Inc), because of multiple agreements, there have been reports such as, there were overlapping requests for emergency measures from national, prefectural, municipal, and private agencies and information was getting complicated, or, a contractor would have as many as 0 outgoing calls and 0 incoming calls per day on the mobile telephone handled by a single person []. In order to minimize the confusion caused by such conflicting information during a disaster, it is deemed necessary for national, prefectural, and municipal disaster agreement companies to share information with each other and ensure rapid and smooth initial response. N = 7 Figure. The government agencies that have signed the disaster agreement () The initial response The information about the companies that mobilized disaster emergency relief immediately after the heavy rain in northern Kyushu is presented in Table. Most of the companies, that is, 7 in district (9%) and 9 in district (00%) had mobilized recovery measures. Table. Mobilization for disaster recovery District Mobilized Not mobilized 7 companies (9%) companies (%) 9 companies (00%) 0 companies (0%) Figure shows the breakdown of the factors that triggered the mobilization. More than % of the companies in both districts together mobilized because of requests from government office, which is binding on them on account of the disaster agreement. On the other hand, about 0% of the companies responded by saying that they had mobilized relief measures voluntarily, and it was found that they had done so out of a sense of duty because it is their hometown. Nearly 0% of the companies said that they acted in response to support requests from other companies. Request from government office Voluntary Support requests from other companies Other Prefectural and municipality,.% Prefectural and municipality, Prefecture,.7%.9% National, prefectural, municipal, and other National, prefectural, and municipal Prefectural, municipal, and other Prefectural and municipality Prefectural and other Prefectural Municipal.7%.0% 0.7%.%.0%.% Municipality,.0% Figure. Disaster mobilization triggers (multiple answers).7% 9.% Figure shows the time taken for mobilization. It is seen that the number of local construction companies that provided immediate action is as high as.7% in district and 7.% in

4 district, which is more than half the total number. The number of companies that were mobilized in less than h (immediate action and action in h) was 7.7% in district and.7% in district. It was expected that the heavy downpour would continue for a whole day before the disaster would strike. However, it would be very difficult to gather the materials and equipment needed for disaster response (heavy equipment, sandbags, etc.,) and to collect and deploy personnel within a few days. Hence, adequate preparations must have been done during normal times to be in readiness for disaster response. Figure. Time taken for mobilization () Disaster emergency recovery activities The entities that decided the scope of execution of the companies that mobilized disaster recovery measures are shown in Figure. We see that the scope of execution in the case of more than 9% of the companies in both districts is determined by direct instructions from the government office. Next, the instructions from the group (association) determined the scope of execution in the case of.% of the companies in district and.% of the companies in district. In addition, the companies that participated voluntarily are about % in both districts together, and some companies also carried out activities in accordance with instructions from the same contractor. Immediate action,,.7% Immediate action, 7.% Instructions from government office, 9.0%.% Instructions from government office Instructions from the association Voluntary Instructions from the company Unanswered Instructions from government office, 9.% h, 0.0% Immediate action h h More than one day Unanswered h,.%.% Figure. The entities that decide the scope of execution of disaster recovery The breakup of answers to the question of whether the disaster emergency recovery work progressed smoothly is shown in Figure. The number of companies that felt that the work progressed smoothly is 0.% in district and.% in district, constituting about half the total number. In contrast, the companies that said that the work did not go smoothly are less than % in number. About % of the companies in both districts answered neither. Smoothly executed, 0.% Smoothly executed,.% Neither.%.% Smoothly executed Not smooth Neither Unanswered.% Neither,.7% Figure. Whether the disaster recovery work progressed smoothly Figure 7 shows the problems in disaster recovery work. According to the figure, companies in district and companies in district mentioned inconsistent instruction systems as the problem in disaster recovery operations. It may therefore be concluded that in the current system of collaborative (coordinated) work, an instruction system for taking control has not been well established. From this experience, it can be concluded that in order to be able to deliver smoother disaster response, it is necessary to have a more clearly defined system of instructions. Several other problems have also been mentioned and among them, lack of equipment and human resources is the most common. On the other hand, it has also been pointed out that the shrinking of public investment in recent times and the intense price competition due to bidding have had a deteriorating effect on the financial condition of the local construction industry, resulting in shortage of construction machinery and engineers and technicians. According to the Business Survey and Economic Census published by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Statistics Bureau [], although the number of industrial workers in City has increased by about % in 0 compared with the figure in 999, the number of people employed in the construction industry has reduced by more than 0% in 0 []. A similar trend is seen in also, pointing to the need for effective measures. In particular, the assessment of the current situation of the number of engineers and technicians in each region and the number required may be considered as future challenges.

5 Shortage of equipment and human resources Inconsistent instruction system the disaster emergency restoration is shown in Figure. Figure shows the result of asking the companies about their impressions of the current state of settlement. Secondary disasters and safety assurance Securing the access route Telephone interruption / communication system 7 There was impact,.% There was impact Unanswered There was impact,.7% No impact,.% No impact No impact, 9.% Securing space for debris Advance discussion and training Figure 7. Problems in the progress of disaster recovery work () Benefits and impact of the disaster response The benefits of disaster restoration mobilization are shown in Figure. Further, Figure 9 summarizes the contents of the benefits. There are benefits, 9.% No benefits,.7% 0.7% There are benefits No benefits Neither Unanswered N = t N = Figure 0. Existence of impact due to disaster recovery mobilization Delay in hand-held construction Restoration priority/ rejection of bid Work force shortage Increase in construction work Figure. Nature of impact N = 0 N = 7 There are benefits,.% No benefits,.% 0.% Figure. Existence of benefits of disaster recovery mobilization Satisfied, 9.% Satisfied,.% Satisfied Neither.%.% Neither,.% Not satisfied Unanswered Neither, 9.% Public recognition Gratitude and understanding of residents Contribution to community Increase in number of jobs Figure 9. Nature of benefits Figure 0 shows the existence of impact due to disaster recovery mobilization. The nature of the impact is shown in Figure. The level of satisfaction with regard to the settlement amount after N = 7 N = Figure. Level of satisfaction with settlement amount Satisfied since the amount was reasonable Lower expenses / Unit price depreciation during emergency Parts for which no settlement can be done Accepted as sacrifice 0 0 Figure. Impressions about the current state of settlement N = N =

6 () Thoughts on having participated in disaster emergency restoration activities The answers to the question of the company s perception of the role it has played in the disaster emergency restoration activities are shown in Figure. Road development Regional contribution Protect the hometown 0 0 N = N = Figure. Nature of the role achieved. Conclusion In this study, we focused on the restoration activities carried out in northern Kyushu after the disaster due to the heavy rains that occurred in July 0. In our attempt to understand the actual disaster response situation of the local construction companies through a questionnaire survey, we outlined the future challenges in order to secure and maintain the regional disaster prevention functions through cooperation between companies and local governments. If the volume of construction continues to decrease, construction companies in some regions may not hold on to their machinery because of failing business conditions. As an inevitable consequence, fewer operators will be hired. Therefore, sufficient show of strength cannot be made in the event of a disaster, and it may become difficult to maintain the collaboration between local construction companies and government agencies. To quote an example, 9 companies were members of the Branch in 000, but the membership has reduced to companies in 0, a reduction of nearly 0% in the last decade []. This fact also reiterates the importance for measures to maintain the collaboration between local construction companies and government agencies. For instance, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Shikoku Regional Development Bureau recently has been trying out an Examination type comprehensive evaluation bid system utilizing Regional Disaster Prevention force (local companies) in order to maintain a disaster prevention force in the region and to promote the healthy development of good local companies who are familiar with the mountainous region []. In addition, in February 0, the Kanto Regional Development Bureau of the same ministry announced that it was 7 examining a new evaluation system that will enable companies that have their own construction machinery to have an advantage in the comprehensive evaluation system []. This has been done to increase the number of companies that possess construction machinery that can be useful in restoration and reconstruction assistance at the time of large-scale disasters, in snow removal, and in the maintenance of regional infrastructure. Such measures are necessary as incentives for companies to participate continuously. In conclusion, it is anticipated that the contracting agencies such as local governments will function as reference points that help to improve and enhance the evaluation of regional contribution. Acknowledgements This study was carried out as part of the public interest support project of Kyushu Planning Association (Inc) for FY 0. The questionnaire survey was carried out with the cooperation of the Fukuoka Prefecture Civil Union Federation Branch (Inc) and the Kumamoto Prefecture Construction Association Branch (Inc). We also received valuable information and suggestions from the Japan Society of Civil Engineers Construction Management Committee (Inc) and the members of the bid contract system research subcommittee of public works in local areas. We acknowledge their services with deep gratitude. References [] Public Interest Incorporated group corporation wood Society of Construction Management Committee: Symposium on the present and future of disaster recovery closely related to the region, lecture materials, 0.. [] Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Bureau of Statistics: Corporate survey and economic census - activity investigation, http: // final reading. [] Construction Industry Promotion Fund (Foundation): Disaster Response Survey of the construction industry in northern Kyushu heavy rain (hearing) report, June 0, p., http: // [] Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Shikoku Regional Development Bureau: Trial of Examination type comprehensive evaluation bid system utilizing Regional Disaster Prevention force (local companies) 0.., kaku/00/00-.pdf [] The Daily Engineering Construction News: Capital Investment Boost from the bidding system, 0..,