Shaw, RajibIshiwatari, MikioArnold, Margaret2013-10-102013-10-102011-03-01https://hdl.handle.net/10986/16110Local communities play a key role in preparing for disastrous events such as the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE), and are normally the first responders to take action. On March 11, 2011, Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) were active in the disaster response and saved countless human lives. Recognizing the role of communities and providing them with central and local government support is critical to maintaining and strengthening important community based functions. Local communities have been responding to and managing disaster risk for centuries. Before the creation of Japan's formal state system, local communities carried out disaster-related activities as volunteers; community-based organizations (CBOs) have existed for centuries.en-USCC BY 3.0 IGOACADEMIC INSTITUTIONSCASUALTIESCOMMUNITY ACTIVITIESCOMMUNITY LEVELCOMMUNITY MEMBERSCOMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONCOMMUNITY STRUCTURESDISASTERDISASTER MANAGEMENTDISASTER MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIESDISASTER PREPAREDNESSDISASTER REDUCTIONDISASTER RESPONSEDISASTER RISKDISASTER RISK REDUCTIONDISASTERSEARTHQUAKEEMERGENCY RESPONSEEVACUATIONEVACUATIONSFIREFLOODFLOODEDLESSONS LEARNEDLOCAL COMMUNITIESLOCAL COMMUNITYLOCAL GOVERNMENTLOCAL GOVERNMENTSLOCAL INSTITUTIONSLOCAL KNOWLEDGENATIONAL AUTHORITIESNATIONAL GOVERNMENTSNATURAL HAZARDSNEIGHBORHOODNEIGHBORHOODSNGONONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONSNONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONSNPOORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURESRISK REDUCTIONSEARCH AND RESCUETSUNAMITSUNAMISWARWARNING SYSTEMSWorld Bank10.1596/16110