Acoustic environmental problems at temporary shelters for victims of the Mid-Niigata Earthquake

Abstract

An earthquake on 23 October 2004 inflicted heavy damage on the Mid-Niigata district. The earthquake isolated Yamakoshi village; consequently, all the village residents were forced to evacuate to temporary shelters in neighboring Nagaoka city for 2 months. Two types of temporary shelters were used: gymnasiums, and buildings with large separated rooms similar to community centers. A questionnaire survey and interviews (N=95) were conducted to elucidate problems of the living environment at the temporary shelters. This study analyzed acoustic environmental problems there. Noise-related problems were noted by 40 respondents (46.5%): they were the fifth most frequently cited environmental problems. Several serious complaints, e.g., general annoyance at the shelters and footsteps of refugees at night, were only indicated by respondents who had evacuated to the gymnasiums. However, some problems, e.g., the clamor of children, including crying babies and voices of other refugees, were indicated by respondents irrespective of the type of the shelters to which they had been evacuated. Therefore, buildings like community centers were more desirable for temporary shelters, at least from the perspective of noise problems.