Self-assessment of tsunami evacuation logistics: Importance of time and earthquake experience

Abstract

The available literature on tsunami evacuation has neglected to investigate the differences between day and night evacuation logistics, as well as the changes that apply to night-time evacuation before and after an actual earthquake. The current study collected three sets of data on tsunami evacuation logistics: the 2013 day-time data, the 2013 night-time data, and the 2014 night-time data. Using the 2013 night-time data as reference variables, comparative results showed that longer mobilization time and longer clearance time were required at night than during the day. People tended to spend less time on evacuation preparation after an earthquake experience. In the daytime evacuation scenario, a longer mobilization time was required for older people and those whose dwellings were constructed according to the 1981 Building Standards Act. In the night-time evacuation scenario, the need for vehicle evacuation was enhanced by an earthquake experience.