Disaster Management, Civil Protection, and Novel Influenza Countermeasures Operational Plans

In Japan, the Basic Act on Disaster Management was enacted in 1961 following the devastation caused by the Isewan Typhoon in 1959, with the aim of establishing a unified legal framework for disaster management. The Act requires the national government, local governments, and public institutions to establish the necessary systems and take measures—including planning, disaster prevention, emergency response, and recovery—to protect the national land and the lives, bodies, and property of citizens from disasters.

The Act also provides that the Prime Minister may designate public institutions and corporations engaged in public-interest businesses as "Designated Public Institutions," which are responsible for cooperating to ensure the smooth formulation and implementation of Japan’s national disaster management plans.

Nippon Express has been designated as a Designated Public Institution in the freight transportation sector. Based on the Basic Disaster Management Plan formulated by the Central Disaster Management Council, we have established a Disaster Management Operational Plan. We implement disaster-prevention measures, including the development of emergency communication systems and comprehensive disaster drills. In the event of a disaster, we also carry out emergency-response and recovery measures, including emergency transportation at the request of the national government, prefectural governments, and other authorities.

Main Emergency Transportation Achievements

• "Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake" (Occurred January 17, 1995, 05:46, M7.2) At the request of administrative agencies and other organizations throughout Japan, a total of 1,304 truckloads of emergency relief supplies, including food, beverages/water, blankets/futons/clothing, were transported. (January 17, 1995 - February 28, 1995)
• "Geiyo Earthquake" (occurred around 15:28 on March 24, 2001, magnitude 6.4) At the request of the head of the Hiroshima Prefectural Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters (Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture), 2,000 blue tarpaulins were urgently transported from Yokohama City to Hiroshima City on March 27.
• "Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake" (October 23, 2004, 17:56, M6.8) At the request of Niigata Prefecture, as a central company of the Niigata Prefectural Trucking Association, a designated local public institution of Niigata Prefecture, we carried out the transportation of relief supplies from all over the country, warehouse receiving, and distribution to evacuation centers. We transported nearly 100 truckloads of emergency relief supplies from all over the country, including blankets, beverages/water, blankets/futons/clothing, etc., and were also in charge of storing the supplies in our warehouse and transporting the relief supplies from the warehouse to each evacuation center.
• "Great East Japan Earthquake" (occurred March 11, 2011, 14:46, M9.0): At the request of the national government and administrative agencies nationwide, a total of 6,810 trucks were used to transport emergency supplies from all over Japan (as of the end of April 2011).
  Additionally, due to the disruption of freight train service in various parts of the Tohoku Main Line, a total of 1,120 trucks were used to provide alternative transportation for the affected sections (March 25, 2011 - April 20, 2011).
• In response to the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake (foreshock occurred at 9:26 PM on April 14, 2016, magnitude 6.5; main shock occurred at 1:25 AM on April 16, 2016, magnitude 7.3), the Tosu Distribution Center, a Nippon Express base in Saga Prefecture, was provided as a primary collection point for relief supplies. Food-related relief supplies were initially received there, sorted according to their destination, and then transported to various bases in the affected municipalities.
  We carried out emergency transportation using 91 trucks and 6 JR containers for the initial transport (transporting supplies to the primary collection point), and 133 trucks for the secondary transport (transporting supplies from the primary collection point to various locations in the affected municipalities). In terms of personnel, we also deployed our employees to the Cabinet Office and the Kumamoto Prefectural Government to support the transportation system.

The "Act concerning the Measures for Protection of the People in Armed Attack Situations, etc." came into force on September 17, 2004. In the event of an armed attack or similar situation, the Act establishes the responsibilities of the national and local governments, measures for the evacuation and relief of residents, and measures for responding to armed-attack disasters, in order to protect the lives, bodies, and property of citizens.

The Act also designates public institutions and corporations engaged in public-interest businesses that cooperate with the national and local governments to implement civil-protection measures as "Designated Public Institutions."

Nippon Express has been designated as a "Designated Public Institution," alongside major land, sea, and air freight carriers, to fulfill roles such as transporting emergency supplies. Based on the government’s "Basic Guidelines for the Protection of the People," we have established a "Civil Protection Operational Plan."

The "Act on Special Measures Against Novel Influenza, etc." was enacted to protect the lives and health of citizens and minimize the impact on daily life and the economy in the event of an outbreak of highly pathogenic novel influenza or a similarly hazardous emerging infectious disease. The Act came into force on April 13, 2013.

Under the Act, public institutions and corporations engaged in public-interest businesses are designated as "Designated Public Institutions" and are required to cooperate with the national and local governments to implement countermeasures against novel influenza and similar infectious diseases accurately and promptly.

Nippon Express has been designated as a "Designated Public Institution" in the motor truck transportation sector. Based on the government’s "Action Plan for Countermeasures Against Novel Influenza, etc.," we have established an "Operational Plan for Countermeasures Against Novel Influenza, etc."