23/04 Authorities scramble to arrange home visits

The Yomiuri Shimbun

The Self-Defense Forces, police and local governments are trying to prepare as best they can to ensure visits by evacuees to homes within the no-entry zone around the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant go as smoothly and safely as possible.

The SDF had previously considered setting up post-visit radiation decontamination sites at schoolyards and other similar locations, but since the dirt grounds would soak up the water used for decontamination, the SDF decided to look for alternative spots with asphalt surfaces.

The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry has asked local bus operators to help transport residents to their homes. The ministry said securing enough buses is not likely to be a problem, but since the buses will travel in areas where radiation levels are relatively high, the ministry said it would not ask the companies to provide drivers. Instead, SDF personnel will likely drive the buses.

Meanwhile, the government of Minami-Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, said it would discuss with the prefectural government how to conduct the home visits. The municipal government said many of its residents have already evacuated to outside the city, and home visits for these people will need to be scheduled. It also said it would discuss how to obtain protective suits for residents to wear during the visits.

People involved are particularly worried about what to do if something unexpected happens at the troubled nuclear plant during the visits. "[How to respond to an emergency] is a very important point," Gen. Ryoichi Oriki, chief of the Self-Defense Forces Joint Staff, said at a press conference Thursday. "We will prepare for an emergency evacuation."

Soon after the March 11 disaster, the SDF deployed the Ground Self-Defense Force Central Readiness Regiment in Utsunomiya--capable of responding to terrorism and other contingencies--and other units to Fukushima Prefecture. These units have prepared to help evacuate workers at the Fukushima plant in case of an emergency. "We'll adjust our plans based on the number of residents entering the no-entry zone," a senior SDF official said. "We need to prepare for a major operation."

Police officers will also accompany residents during the home visits and measure radiation levels. The officers will be prepared to quickly lead residents out of the the no-entry zone if the situation at the Fukushima plant becomes dangerous or radiation levels surge due to changes in wind direction.

But there will not be enough police to accompany each resident as homes in the area are often more than 100 meters apart. "We may need to hand out walkie-talkies to make sure people stay safe," a senior police officer said. "But we haven't decided on the details yet."

After Mt. Fugen in Nagasaki Prefecture erupted in June 1991, the government designated a no-entry zone in Shimabara and other nearby areas. Local residents were allowed to temporarily enter the no-entry zone, and were led by personnel from the SDF, police and fire department. The residents were given disaster radios in case of emergencies.

"We let people into [the no-entry zone] after specialists evaluated the situation on the mountain," said Teijiro Yoshioka, 74, who was then deputy mayor of Shimabara. "But we were still nervous."

To prevent people from entering the no-entry zone, the Minami-Soma municipal government has set up barricades on some roads in the city. The Fukushima prefectural police have mobilized 250 officers and are conducting traffic inspections on major roads leading to the no-entry zone. The police have also placed blockades on farm roads to restrict unauthorized entry.

However, many evacuees have moved the blockades to the shoulder of the road to enter the zone. It is also difficult to prevent people from entering via fields and vacant lots.

(Apr. 23, 2011)