Accurate information key to effective crisis management
(Mainichi Japan) March 15, 2011
The issuing of evacuation orders for areas near a nuclear power plant where explosions have occurred without clarifying what is the actual situation at the plant has only caused anxiety to the public.
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In addition to explaining what is the actual situation at the plant, power suppliers as well as the government are urged to clearly explain what they assume will happen to nuclear power plants effected by the massive earthquake. If groundless presumptions escalate the public's anxiety, it could cause many people to panic, spreading unnecessary damage.
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What is important in crisis management at the time of a serious disaster like the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake is the prompt dispatch of information from reliable sources. The public learned such a lesson from the outbreak of swine flu.
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However, relevant organizations have failed to provide consistent information to the public. The Prime Minister's Office, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) and Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) and other organizations concerned have so far held separate news conferences to explain what has happened to the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant.
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Since TEPCO, which operates the plant, is the primary information source, there are time lags and gaps in the accuracy of information announced by the power supplier and other entities.
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Since TEPCO, which operates the plant, is the primary information source, there are time lags and gaps in the accuracy of information announced by the power supplier and other entities.
It took hours before the government announced an explosion at the building that houses the No. 1 reactor reportedly because TEPCO was late in reporting the incident to the government regulator. Even though the way information on the incident is provided has since improved, the relevant organizations still have failed to sufficiently share necessary information.
The Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant in Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture is pictured in this August 2003 file photo. (Mainichi)
Confusion over rolling power outages -- the suspension of electricity supply to different areas on a rotation basis -- is attributable largely to the inadequate provision of information. TEPCO's explanations and its response to the shortage of power have changed from time to time, and members of the public have not been informed of when power supply to their homes would be suspended -- even the night before the planned cuts.
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Power outages without providing sufficient information on the situation could endanger the lives of people who use artificial respirators at home. Conflicting information has led to the public's confusion over the suspension of railway services in the metropolitan area.
Given the scale of the disaster, rolling power outages can win understanding from the public. The problem is the relevant organizations' failure to dispatch accurate information on the measure in an appropriate manner.
Under the current circumstances, gathering and providing information on the nuclear power plant and power supply should no longer be left to the discretion of a single private company.
Based on real-time information, the government should cooperate closely with experts in nuclear power generation, radiation, crisis management, public relations and risk management in providing accurate information to the general public.
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The nation as a whole should work together to overcome this extremely serious crisis. It's time for the entire nation to increase its crisis management ability by sharing accurate information.
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Click here for the original Japanese story
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