Health Monitoring Systems for Disaster Victims in the US and Japan and Their Policy Implications

Abstract

A health monitoring system for disaster victims, currently lacking in Korea, would enable the identification of the long- and short-term health impacts of disasters, as well as the extent and patterns of these impacts on different population groups. This article examines cases from the US and Japan where national-level efforts, utilizing registries of victims or community resident cohorts, have been made to identify the physical and mental health impacts of disasters. Both the US and Japan have implemented support and policy measures based on findings from their monitoring of disaster victims. The fact that these findings are shared with policymakers, researchers, and the general public, for both academic and policymaking purposes, has significant implications for Korea.