Japanese elderly weren’t contacted after quake

The city government of Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, which compiled a list of people who may need assistance at the time of a natural disaster in March, failed to fully use the list during the latest quake, as it had not worked out specific ways to confirm the safety of those on the list or to help them evacuate, it was learned Wednesday.  The list includes elderly people living alone and physically disabled people.  Cities, wards, towns and villages across the country were told by the Cabinet Office in 2005 to compile a list of people who may need assistance in the event of a natural disaster.  The city government staff have been trying to confirm the safety of elderly people living alone on the list by phoning them, but many of them have apparently moved to shelters. Of 2,687 people on the list, staff had only contacted 629 by Monday–about 20 percent.  The list was compiled by the city’s nursing care and elderly citizens section, based on the Basic Resident Register, and has their name, address, age, telephone number and details of any necessary nursing care.

Read more in The Daily Yomiuri online, http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20070720TDY02005.htm