On March 11, 2011, Japan was hit with a record-breaking 9.1 magnitude earthquake, leading to tsunami waves up to 40 meters tall. This event caused mass destruction, killing thousands and displacing more than 450,000. While Japan deployed a quick response, gaps in disaster management plans led to a worldwide impact.
Merken reviews the global impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake, analyzing the role played by Japan’s disaster response protocol in this case study. In some aspects, the Japanese government had a timely and effective response to the event. However, Merken emphasizes the shortfalls in the nation’s emergency management that led to widespread adverse consequences.