THE TOHOKU DISASTERS: CHIEF LESSOS CONCERNING THE POST DISASTER HUMANITARIAN LOGISTICS RESPONSE AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS José Holguín-Veras, Ph.D., P.E. William H. Hart Professor, Director of the Center for Infrastructure, Transportation, and the Environment Civil and Environmental Engineering Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8 th St, Room JEC 4030, NY Troy, USA, ZIP 12180 Phone: +1 518-276-6221 Email:
[email protected] Eiichi Taniguchi, Ph.D. Department of Urban Management Kyoto University, Katsura Campus, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8540 Japan Phone: +81-75-383-3229 Email:
[email protected] Frederico Ferreira, Ph.D. Department of Urban Management Unit for Liveable Cities Kyoto University, Katsura Campus, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8540 Japan Phone: +81-75-383-2819 Email:
[email protected] Miguel Jaller, Ph.D. Civil and Environmental Engineering Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8 th St, Room JEC 4030, NY Troy, USA, ZIP 12180 Phone: +1 518-276-6221 Email:
[email protected] Felipe Aros-Vera, M.Sc. Civil and Environmental Engineering Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8 th St, Room JEC 4030, NY Troy, USA, ZIP 12180 Phone: +1 518-276-6221 Email:
[email protected] Russell G. Thompson, Ph.D. Institute of Transport Studies Monash University Clayton, Australia 3800 Phone: + 61 4 9905 1850 Email:
[email protected] ABSTRACT This paper describes the findings of the research conducted by the authors on the humanitarian logistic efforts after the cascading disasters that impacted the Tohoku region after the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11 th , 2011. Using a combination of in depth interviews with participants in the relief efforts and meta analyses of news accounts, the authors identified lessons learned by the participants, and the corresponding policy implications and suggestions for improvement of future response efforts.