Signing of Mutual Support Agreements for Disaster Response

Agreements have been made for mutual support between the City of Sendai and other municipalities that provide against the occurrence of large-scale disasters since before the Great East Japan Earthquake, and mutual assistance has been provided such as by dispatching personnel and providing supplies. The City also has agreements with other entities such as businesses for public relation activities and providing supplies such as food, and other emergency measures. The City also cooperates with research institutes on joint research projects that contribute to disaster risk reduction.
At the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, Sendai City received a variety of support from across Japan owing to the various agreements above.
Based on the lessons learned from the earthquake, the City has built a solid and cooperative support system through collaboration with various stakeholders and has been promoting measures to help stranded commuters and advance the use of private facilities for tsunami evacuation.

Figure:Number of Mutual Support Agreements

At the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, public transportation was suspended and more than 10,000 people, including tourists, were left stranded. Confusion resulted from the stranded people who rushed to nearby evacuation centers, making it impossible for local residents to get into their own designated centers.
Learning from this experience, Sendai City has taken steps to support approximately 14,000 stranded commuters expected in the event of a major disaster near transportation hubs such as JR Sendai Station. These efforts include joint initiatives with relevant agencies and organizations to promote mutual aid. Countermeasures and drills are carried out with the cooperation of station facilities, hotels, commercial establishments, and university campuses. As of September 1, 2025, 31 temporary accommodation sites capable of housing a total of 14,720 people have been secured for stranded individuals.
A ‘liaison council’ was established by concerned parties located around JR Sendai Station. In May 2014, they drew up the guidelines for responding to stranded people. They include stopping commuters from going home all at once and specifying the measures that people must take, followed by roles and responsibilities at times of disaster, as well as holding disaster drills on a regular basis.
A ‘liaison council’ was established by concerned parties located around JR Nagamachi Station in June 2018. They drew up guidelines for responding to stranded people and implemented similar drills to those conducted around Sendai Station.
Meanwhile, to support people who choose to walk home, Miyagi Prefecture, Sendai City and 11 companies that belong to the Japan Franchise Association have signed an agreement whereby shops will act as support stations and provide potable water, toilet facilities and road directions to people walking home in the event of a disaster.