Disaster Response—a Military Perspective of the March 2011 Mega-Disaster
2011 disaster placed enormous strain on HA/DR capabilities.
Search and rescue operations continued for months for victims
trapped in mud and rubble, submerged underwater, isolated
in undiscovered buildings, and in radioactive-contaminated
areas. Tens of thousands of survivors were scattered in shelters
across provinces, suffering from serious shortages of food, water,
medicine, and fuel due to the devastation of airports, seaports,
roads, and railways. The crisis was exacerbated by the fact that
some of the local HA/DR authorities were themselves victims.
Frequent Magnitude 5 aftershocks, the tsunami, and radiation
warnings severely hampered efforts. Thus, not only were efforts
to locate survivors and bodies an urgent concern, but also providing sustenance to people, utilizing transportation lines, and
implementing countermeasures for the crippled nuclear plant
were becoming increasingly problematic.
nel, it assisted in the cooling of the nuclear power plant with
water delivered by air and ground, decontamination efforts,
monitoring radiation levels, and emergency evacuation.11
To accomplish such a large and complex operation, the JSDF
conducted civil-military coordination and cooperation, working through complicated channels of communication ranging
from the interagency to the local levels. Hence, the JTF interacted with governors, mayors and police forces throughout its
vast area of responsibility (AOR). Similarly, the CRF engaged
the federal government and other national agencies including
TEPCO, the owner of the nuclear plant. Because of the potential confusion arising from these multiple channels of communication, especially in the Fukushima province, which had
suffered the most damage, the JSDF sent liaison officers to the
civilian authorities and deployed units.
To cope with the bitter aftermath, JSDF set three precedents
in its history: organizing a Joint Task Force ( JTF) for HA/
DR, calling up reserves for the contingency, and dispatching a
military unit to the nuclear emergency site.
JSDF—U.S. Forces Cooperation
The Disaster Dispatch Order created a JTF on 14 March from
the Regional Army of the affected area. It comprised 107,000
personnel, 540 aircraft, and 60 ships at its peak, accounting for
half of JSDF total strength and the largest mobilization of the
JSDF ever.6 Assigned to assist the authorities and areas affected
by the earthquake and tsunami, the JTF rescued 19,000 people
(70 percent of everyone rescued),7 recovered 9,500 bodies (60
p \