Figure 1.

Geographic details of Soma and Iitate. Fukushima prefecture (dark area in maps A and B, where the scale bars indicate 500 km and concentric circles show 100-km intervals) is located southwest of the center of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Soma City (“S” on the enlarged map C, where the scale bar indicates 25 km) is located approximately 170 km from the center of the earthquake (the dotted circle indicates 200 km from the center of the earthquake) and 30 km from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (“N” on map C, where solid concentric circles indicate 25-km intervals). Soma City experienced an earthquake expressed as a “level 6-low” on the 7-point Japanese seismic intensity scale, indicating that it is difficult for people to remain standing. The tsunami was more than 9.3 m in height in the city. The village of Iitate is on the mountainous side of Soma and in a northwestern direction from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (“I” on map C). Evacuees are living in temporary prefabricated houses on hills (D). The sizes of houses range between approximately 20 m² for 1 to 3 people and 40 m² for 4 or 5 people. Evacuees are allowed to live in these houses for up to 3 years after they move in.