“I was prepared, but it wasn't enough” – Disaster Preparedness Kit Born from the Reality of the Kumamoto Earthquakes

Local Force Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture; Representative Director: Satoshi Yoneda; hereinafter 'the Company'), through its group company South Sogo System Co., Ltd., is selling a one-person disaster preparedness kit developed based on the experiences of the Kumamoto Earthquakes.

(https://item.rakuten.co.jp/southland/kd-0001/)

　This product was designed based on responses to a survey (over 200 participants) conducted mainly in the Mashiki-machi area, which suffered significant damage, asking "What would have been useful?". The survey revealed that even when disaster preparedness goods were prepared, many respondents found their contents insufficient, indicating that the challenge lay in the "contents" rather than the "quantity" of their preparations.

■“Prepared, but it wasn't enough” becomes the majority — Reality revealed by our own survey

During the Kumamoto Earthquakes, many people were suddenly forced into evacuation. Facing realities with no electricity or water and limited information, they asked, "What should we have prepared and how?". Among those affected, not a few had indeed prepared disaster preparedness goods.

　However, many voices were heard saying, "I didn't have enough of what I needed" or "It wasn't what I had expected."

■Why did "preparedness" fail to function?

What emerged from the voices of the victims was not that they "hadn't prepared," but rather that "their preparedness didn't function." Even when disaster preparedness goods were provided in advance, in actual evacuation life, situations like "not having enough of what was needed" and "the contents being different from what was expected" were frequently observed. This indicates that the reality of a disaster far exceeded everyday expectations. The problem was not the presence or absence of stockpiles, but rather that the contents were not tailored to the actual evacuation life. The gap between expectation and reality highlighted that the issue lies in the "quality" of preparedness.

■From “What to have” to “What is useful”

　To resolve this discrepancy, it is necessary to re-evaluate preparedness from the perspective of "what will be useful in what situation," rather than merely "what one possesses."

　Our company's mission is to spread "realistic preparedness" based on real experiences throughout society. Disasters can strike at any time. Therefore, we aim for this product to serve as an opportunity for individuals to review their preparedness and lead to more effective disaster prevention.

■Product Overview

【Seller】

Company Name: South Sogo System Co., Ltd.

(A group company of Local Force Holdings Co., Ltd.)

Location: 1-6-13 Tsubokawa, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture

Representative: Ryuichi Minami, Representative Director

Established: January 22, Heisei 3 (1991)

HP: https://south373.com/

Business Activities: General construction, residential housing, store renovation, remodeling, civil engineering, real estate business, hotel/ryokan business, construction related to Kumamoto Prefecture's recovery

South Sogo System Co., Ltd. is a construction company based in Kumamoto City, engaged in residential design and construction, remodeling, and store renovations. They are dedicated to meeting each client's specific needs, providing consistent support from design to construction and after-sales service. They also prioritize creating homes where people can live safely even during disasters, and are committed to proposals that incorporate disaster prevention and mitigation perspectives.