Utilization of Mobile Homes at Times of Disaster

"Hotel El faro" - It opened in front of Onagawa Station, in August, 2017.

Mobile Homes are utilized in affected areas in Japan.

Early reconstruction is needed in disaster stricken areas.

Since the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake in 1995, we have supported recovery of disasters in various areas in Japan. Recent disasters have been causing unexpected damage.
We have accumulated know-how to utilize mobile homes to help early recovery for disaster victims and stricken areas.

The left picture is "Hotel El faro" which was completed in August 2018. It can accommodate more than 130 people in 40 mobile homes. (It had been opened in December 2013 at another place, by Onagawa Ryokan Association in Miyagi Prefecture, and it was relocated and reopened.)

Mobile homes can be utilized as temporary shops and dwellings, and its largest advantage is usability on early reconstruction. However in current Japan, number of mobile homes owned is small and there is no place to stockpile in a mass. We think that increasing the number of mobile homes in Japan brings not only usefullness at time of disasters, but also new industry and business.

October 9, 2018: A viewing of mobile homes was held.
Utilization as individual temporary housing (for 2 years) at the Hokkaido eastern Iburi earthquake.

In Hokkaido, there are some special circumstances that disaster victims have difficulty to leave their houses, for example, dairy farmers need to care for farm animals constantly but a temporary housing area is distant from their houses/farms, etc. Because of situations like that, we requested the government for installation of individual temporary housing, and could obtain their understanding, and the viewing was held.

a viewing for disaster victims, held on October 9

A mayor of Abira-cho explained circumstances until then and an outline.

questions and answers with the press, in a mobile home

Company president of Snow Dream, our agent in Hokkaido, explained disaster situations and contents of support.

an article published in Tokachi Mainichi News

September, 2018:
Utilization as temporary housing (for 2 years) for a heavy rain disaster in western Japan.

We visited and saw that people in shelters were troubled by privacy and stress in intense heat of August, and we suggested mobile homes for temporary housing. After obtained understanding from Disaster Management of Cabinetto Office, MLIT and Okayama Prefecture, we received a request for delivery on August 3, arrived at Kurashiki-shi on 22nd, and an opening ceremony was held on September 8.

Receiving a permission, mobile homes were transported on expressway.

Ten units arrived at a planned site of temporary housing on 16 - 22 August.

At the end of August, they were installed orderly and electricity works and water works were done.

On September 6, all inspection by the city was finished and preparation for moving in was started.

It was rainy on September 8, but residents seemed happy when the mayor handed them keys.

August, 2017: Hotel El faro was relocated and opened. (Onagawa-cho, Miyagi)

Forty mobile homes were relocated in ten days.

the end of May, 2017;
the last night of their four years from the first open

a ceremony before construction at the new place; Construction work started in June.

Transporting started. Moving within Onagawa-cho.

Media people were taking a video of a scene of carrying-out/transporting all along. It was a little event.

The site of relocation is a good place which is in front of a station. Installation started in July.

September, 2016: Utilization of mobile homes as shelter facilities in the affected area

Mobile homes were installed in Mashiki-machi, one of the most damaged area by the earthquake, and used as shelter facilities from May to the end of August.

In May, the shelters were opened.

Thirty units were installed in a prefecture-owned land of Kumamoto.

Important thing is that the evacuees can live with feeling secure.

A barbeque event was held at the shelters in August.

The shelters were closed at the end of August. All carrying-out work was completed on September 5.

April 28, May 8, 2016: Utilization by support associations in Kumamoto-shi and Mashiki-machi

Mobile homes had been carried in Kumamoto, two units on April 18th, four units on 28th.

A mobile home installed at a site next to Mashiki-machi town office, as a work space of a support association

The road was congested because a road ahead had been closed because of collapsed buildings.

Slopes etc. were also ready on May 8.

That it is movable is a merit of mobile homes. These units will be moved and used in another place in future.

April 22: Visited to see disaster situations.

We visited disaster control headquarters of Kumamoto and Mashiki-machi, a general gymnasium, etc.

Water supply had been stopped in Kumamot Airport. Escalators also had stopped.

Four units were installed at a factory in Kumamoto, for a support for employees.

Checking disaster situations on site

Mr. Kuniaki Shimizu cheered up evacuees in the general gymnasium.

Had a meeting until with staffs of a support group, in the mobile home.

April 18: Had an advance meeting at disaster control headquarters, at the Kumamoto prefectural office.

We visited Kumamoto prefectural office on April 18, just after the second earthquake.	Self-Defense Forces supplied boxed water by carrying boxes one by one.	Boxes of water we saw from disaster control headquarters	the general gymnasium of Mashiki-machi, the town which was seriously damaged and had lots of earthquake victims
Many roads in center of Mashiki-machi had been closed because of building collapse.	Narrow roads were congested because of one-way alternating traffic.	Collapsed building was blocking roads.	Many buildings were tilted and likely to collapse.

January, 2015: "Ishinomaki Fukkou Marché 2"

Ishinomaki Fukkou Marché was closed in November, 2014 for the sake of construction of a tide embankment.
The mobile homes were moved 30 meter ahead, and it is being prepared toward for reopening in March by Ishinomaki Chamber of Commerce & Industry and companies in Ishinomaki.

September, 2014:
A restaurant was reopened after a year from a landslide disaster in Izu-Ohshima occured.

October 25 - 26, 2014, a large landslide disaster caused by Typhoon No. 26. occured in Izu-Ohshima. A restaurant owner affected by the disaster had found about mobile homes used in Onagawa, Miyagi, and he decided to restarted his restaurant in a mobile home.

departed from Nagano

arrived at Izu-Ohshima

Installation was finished.

interior of the restaurant

a kitchen

February 17, 2014: General Disaster Response and Preparedness Study Project

Tokyo Metropolitan University (TMU) started research on disaster countermeasure in Tokyo metropolitan area. Twenty six people from TMU visited stricken areas in Tohoku for inspection for 2 days, and also held a meeting for listening and exchanging opinions.

The meeting was held at Onagawa town office (Miyagi).

There were also participants from local governments.

reports of situation of affected areas

about utilization of mobile products as one of new disaster countermeasures

December 25, 2013:
A lovely meeting room was installed in Onagawa by a support from people in Kobe, Hyogo.

The meeting room of trailer house was donated by a citizen group in Kobe as support for women in Onagawa.

December 13, 2013: A meeting in Onagawa (After the earthquake, specialists of each field gathered and had a meeting.)

Directors of Onagawa Lodging Village told about situations after the earthquake disaster and difficulties when they restarted their business at early stage, and so on.

There were participants from government office, private enterprises, private organizations, etc.

Some of participants stayed at "El faro", the lodging village.

an inspection of students' study rooms utilizing mobile homes, at a junior high school in Onagawa

November, 2013: "El faro", Onagawa lodging village, started full operation.

The second construction work (to install another ten mobile homes) was finished and the facilities started full operation. Its maximum capacity is 145 people with 64 guest rooms, and there are also restaurants, a conference room, etc.

Move some of the guest room units to the bottom side of the site.

One hour until finishing the removal, and the swapping work with a new unit was completed within half day.

Bring in a new meeting room unit to its planned position.

Easiness to move is a specific merit of mobile homes.

All the construction works had finished in three weeks.

April, 2013: Four mobile homes were set up in an auto camping site in Yamada-machi.

It was three months later from the Great East Japan Earthquake that we visited Yamada-machi for the first time. Two years have passed since the earthquake. Hard days still continue in the town, but it is reconstructing slowly but surely.

April, 2013: Suggestions to affected areas.

Utilization of mobile homes begins to be considered in many local governments including Onagawa-cho, Natori city, etc.

a meeting with the mayor of Natori-shi

Professionals of disaster prevention gathered in the meeting.

a police box in Onagawa which was turned over by a tsunami

at El faro

a meeting with staffs of El faro

December 27, 2012: Trailer house lodging village, "El faro" opened. (in Onagawa-cho, Miyagi)

The accommodation facilities with 30 mobile homes (48 guest rooms, a restaurant and meeting room) was opened.
The facilities cleared all of the inspection of a fire department, inspection of a health center, aquiring a special vehicle transport permission, ways to connect utilities, etc.

Trailer house lodging village "El faro". El faro means a lighthouse in Spanish.	Opened on December 27, 2012.	El faro started operation with supports and cooperation of many people.	Reception of the hotel	Guest rooms
Restaurant and 'Parque'	a view from the restaurant	It became a place where people's kindness are felt.	The business is operated on land leased from the town.	It was completed after two months from starting installation.
July, 2012: Started from field survey, the site was decided.	September, 2012: Works of plumbing, electricity, etc. were started.	December, 2012: Carrying-in work of mobile homes was started.	Making of a center deck	an owl and a bear of chainsaw carving which were presented from Mr. Shimizu as a memorial

June, 2012: "Ishinomaki Fukkou Marché" opened. (Ishinomaki, Miyagi)

The citizen market in Ishinomaki, Miyagi was restarted operation. Three mobile homes are used as a restaurant, vegetable and fish markets.

Citizen Market

the opening ceremony

Many people were awaiting the reopening of the market.

a vegitable market

a fish market

May, 2012: A veterinary clinic (in Fukushima)

A veterinarian opened the clinic in Fukushima so as to treat animals in the affected area.

January, 2012: Kesennuma -KIZUNA- Project (Goemongahara, Kesennuma city, Miyagi Pref.)

As a community base that supports exchange of residents/people within and without the community, three mobile homes were set up next to a temporary housing area. (leaded by AIST and cooperated by a consortium of companies)
It is an independent type facility which has solar panels, generators, a sewage purification system, bathrooms, floor heating, etc.

Three mobile homes were installed.

(a greeting of the mayor of Kesennuma)
On 28th, the opening ceremony was held. Many people gathered, and mochi-tsuki, etc. also took place.

On 27th, a symposium on disaster countermeasures was held.

As a study room and library for students (Onagawa-cho, Miyagi)

Big gifts for children in Onagawa-cho, from an actor Masatoshi Nakamura who is from the local and Unicef

Four mobile homes, which were donated by Masatoshi Nakamura on 14 October and by UNICEF on 22 December and installed at a junior high school in Onagawa, are used as a study room and library for students of elementary/junior high schools.

Installation was finished. A donation ceremony was held. (on 22 December)	Greeting of a town mayor of Onagawa	Santa Claus in blue UNICEF color came up.	Let's move toward future!	All 400 people sang "Silent Night" together.
A donation ceremony of the first one was held on 14 October. Many people were waiting for it.	The mobile home was named "Fureai Orange House".	Ribbon cutting with local children	"Write dreams of each of you on this framed blank paper."	All the furniture and TV were also donated.

September 16, 2011: A meeting place of a temporary housing residents' community (Rikuzentakada, Iwate)

a meeting place for a community of 80 families

Over 40 people gathered on a ceremony of delivery.

on the way of transporting, in Rikuzentakada

arrived at Yonesaki junior high school

September 9, 2011: Meeting place of two temporary housing areas (Sumita-cho, Iwate)

a meeting with the town mayor of Sumita-cho

Motomach area

a delivery ceremony

Hiishi area

Meeting places were installed one each at two temporary housing area.

Reconstruction began to make progress (from July, 2011)

By effort of affected people theirselves and supports from many people outside, reconstruction are heading forward little by little.

We delivered mobile homes carefully.	Transported through towns messed up with lots of rubble. (Onagawa, in Oct.)	a study room for students (Onagawa, in Oct.)	Ishinomaki Fukkou Marché (Fish & vegetable market and a restaurant) Many people awaited restart of the local market.
For a day care facility for seniors (Kesennuma, in Dec.) Care for seniors is necessary, in any situation.	a bathing facility for the day care, utilized by a social welfare council	Dormitories for workers A company going for reconstruction work prepared them for employees to stay. In affected areas, places where people who come for reconstruction work can stay are in short.	Library for children (Rikuzentakada) To provide a place where small children can spend time at ease.
an office (Kesennuma, in Oct.)	a store (Kesennuma, in Oct.)	a seafood restaurant (Ishinomaki, in Sep.)	as houses (Ishinomaki, in Aug.) Two units were installed in order that the parents household and children household could stay together.
a hair salon (Yamada-machi, in July) Aiming for opening at the end of July, restoration was started.	It acquired permission from a public healthcare center, and finally reopened. Flowers outside also bloomed beautyfully. (in Aug.)	an office of fishery association(Yamada-machi, in July) Aiming for early restart of work	In September, they were repairing machines for rolling up a fishing net.

The Great East Japan Earthquake (2011):
Receiving requests for support, we began to go to affected areas.

We received a request from Kesennuma, and decided to depart from Nagano. (on March 31)	We departed Nagano and transported through on a route via Niigata.	At 4 a.m., the town affected by the disaster was in darkness.	Kessennuma disaster volunteer center
In Kesennuma city area, we felt severness of the actual situation, more than what we saw on press reports.	We witnessed situation in the affected area and felt that lots of manpower and budget are going to be needed.	Three weeks after the disaster, roads were cleaned up, but towns are still in heaps of wreckage.	Problems to solve for early reconstruction are...

Started to be used as volunteer centers, etc.

A disaster volunteer center in Kesennuma	We arrived at 6 a.m. and started setting. (April 1)	A volunteer center in Sumita-cho (April 1)	A motorhome was also installed. (Ishinomaki, on April 10)	Another unit was installed in Sumita-cho. (April 10)
Tiding up goods, and preparing to transfer from Sumita to Ofunato	Arrived at Ofunato.	Setting up was finished in a hour. (April 10)	As a reconstruction office (Sumita, on 13 April)	Installed another unit for the reconstruction office. (Sumita, on 29 April)

2010: A landslide occurred in a large resort area in Nagano.

A sanitarium facility was partially collapsed by the landslide at the end of May.

Demolition work was started at the middle of June, and finished at the beginning of July.

A mobile home was carried in, and all the installation work, connecting electricity, water supply and so on, was finished within the day.

2008: Lecture in a seminar about early earthquake warnings at Aichi Kogyo University

We had exhibited a trailer house for two days at Aichi Kogyo University. Many people concerned and students saw it and gave us their opinions.

We explained about trailer houses which were utilized in disaster affected areas. We are expecting spread of them in Japan in the future.

We reported utilization cases in foreign countries when disasters occur, and explained usefullness of trailer houses.

2007: Niigata Chuetsu-oki Earthquake

A shopping street in the stricken area started reconstruction. From a plan to installation and opening.

In October, those concerned from Kashiwazaki visit us and considered a plan to utilize trailer houses.	They planned installation of trailer houses in the center area of the town.	Preparation of the planned site was carried out through days and nights.	Install place was decided. All of them united and worked.	On December 11, while many people looked on, we carried in trailer houses.
The first unit had arrived at 5 a.m..	The second unit had also arrived safely.	Connecting work for electricity, water and wastewater had been finished in two hours after placing the second unit.	December 11, Installation work was finished in half a day.	They were busy for preparation for an opening event.
December 16, "Shofuku-ichi" fair was held, as everyone had been awaiting.	The fair was crowded with many people.	The inside of trailer houses was decorated as Christmas, it was lively with visitors.	We received a letter of appreciation from the town promotion association. We are glad that we could be a help for them.	Christmas card from the town promotion association