[Miyagi Recovery Commission] Ria Coasts in Miyagi Reconstruction Proposal

The Yomiuri Shimbun* reports that fourteen municipalities in Miyagi Prefecture, jointly unveiled a reconstruction proposal that combines three kinds of redevelopment: flat land, urban and ria coast.



For all kinds, the proposal calls for moving residential communities to higher ground with lower ground being dedicated to parks, industry, farms and harbors.

Ria coast proposals: Minamisanriku, Onagawa, Higashimatsushima, Matsushima, Shichigahama and Rifu

Urban proposals: Kesennuma, Ishinomaki, Shiogama, and Tagajo

Flatland proposals: Natori, Iwanuma, Yamamoto, and Watari

Sendai City is not included in this proposal.

While new seawalls are in the flatland proposals, they are not in the ria coast and urban proposals. Noting that many ferroconcrete buildings withstood the tsunami, the ria coast and urban proposals envision tall evacuation buildings near the coast with residences moved back onto higher ground.

Ria coast proposals envision "disaster prevention parks" in low-lying areas to block creep of residences back into these areas.

* Yomiuri Shimbun, Web Edition, 2011 April 25, URL: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/feature/20110316-866918/news/20110425-OYT1T00735.htm