Mobilizing and Coordinating Expert Teams, Nongovernmental Organizations, Nonprofit Organizations, and Vounteers

In response to the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE), domestic and international assistance initiatives were launched by a large number of public and private sectors organizations; and various emergency teams were mobilized through national and international networks. The GEJE reminded us that civil society organizations play an indispensable role in disaster management. These organizations have the advantage of flexibility and speed in reaching and caring for affected communities. However, there were no coordination mechanisms in place that functioned properly on the ground. Because of the complexity of disaster response operations and the large numbers of actors involved, coordination mechanisms must be established in advance during normal times. Municipality and prefecture governments play a leading role in disaster response in Japan. However, because of the catastrophic consequences of the March 11 earthquake and tsunamis many of the local governments were unable to respond, so national agencies as well as prefectures and municipalities outside the affected region were quickly deployed. Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) is a specialized team of medical doctors, nurses, and operational coordinators trained to conduct emergency operations during the critical period, normally within 48 hours, after a large-scale disaster or accident.