Basic Act on Disaster Management (No. 223).

This Act, consisting of ten Chapters, aims at protecting the national territory, the life and properties of citizens from disasters by formulating basic principles, establishing a necessary system through the national and local governments and other public institutions, and clarifying where responsibilities lie concerning disaster management, as well as formulating a basic policy on necessary disaster control measures including formulation of disaster management plans, disaster management, emergency disaster control measures, disaster recovery efforts, and financial measures concerning disaster management, thus developing and promoting a comprehensive and systematic disaster management administration and contributing to the preservation of social order and security of the public welfare. A Central Disaster Prevention Council Shall be established in the Office of the Prime Minister. The Central Disaster Prevention Council shall be charge with the responsibilities listed below: 1) formulation and implementation of a basic disaster prevention plan; 2) formulation and implementation of a plan of emergency measures for a major disaster; 3) in response to inquiry from the Prime Minister, deliberation of major matters relating to disaster prevention; 4) in addition to what is listed above, other business assigned by law to its authority. The Prime Minister is required to consult the Central Disaster Prevention Council with respect to the matters listed below: 1) basic policy of disaster prevention; 2) major points in overall coordination of measures undertaken for disaster prevention; 3) outline of urgent measures of temporary nature for a major disaster; 4) declaration of a state of emergency; 5) other major matters which the Prime Minister may deem necessary for disaster prevention.
The Act is divided as follows: General Rule (Chap. 1); Organizations Relating to Disaster Prevention (Chap. 2); Disaster Prevention Plans (Chap. 3); Prevention of Disasters (Chap. 4); Emergency Measures (Chap. 5); Rehabilitation (Chap. 6); Financial Measures (Chap. 7); State of Emergency (Chap. 8); Miscellaneous Rules (Chap. 9); Penal Provisions (Chap. 10).