建築物の地震対策と防災意識

摘要

Mitigation of expected earthquake disasters is the duty of earthquake engineers. Because the main reason of earthquake damage is the collapse of buildings, it is necessary to make buildings retrofit as soon as possible. However, since buildings are private assets, success in making them retrofit depends on the level of each resident's awareness. In this paper, first, I chiefly review the people's social campaign to reduce earthquake disaster damage led by the government. Then, various activities in Tokai area done by local government and regions are introduced. Finally, the roles of earthquake engineering researchers engaged in local universities are discussed.%東日本大震災では，国民一人一人の防災意識が地震被害を激減させることを改めて知らしめた。津波による被害が甚大であった三陸海岸では，いち早い避難が多くの命を救った。とくに明治三陸地震津波など，幾度も津波の被害を被ってきた岩手県では，「津波てんでんこ」の教訓を次代に伝え，東日本大震災での犠牲者数を，明治三陸地震津波の1/3にした。この間，我が国人口が3倍に増加していることを考えると，住民の意識と行動が津波犠牲者を激減させたことが分る。このことは，防災意識の醸成により，自然災害を克服できることを予感させる。