William here with two “Show me the money!” themed articles from the Kumanichi.
First, a bit about government compensation for property damage. As the chart at the link shows, areas designated Standard Disaster leave victims shouldering between 30 and 50% of recovery costs, while those designated Large-Scale Disaster, as Kumamoto has been, require victims to shoulder between 10 and 30%. However, given the scale, the Kumamoto government is in negotiations with the Central Government to enact a special law which would eliminate deductibles, with the Central Government providing full compensation. The article contains few details but notes, “Kumamoto Prefecture has asked the Central Government to raise subsidy rates and expand them to areas not included under original provisions to cover the full amount of the local share. As recovery is expected to take much time, affected local governments hope to create an environment conducive to reducing business anxiety regarding financial aspects of restoration.”
However, this would be of little help to people such as 81-year old Murakami-san of Uchinomaki, Aso. Eligibility for disaster relief depends upon the issuance of a “Risai Shoumei” (罹災証明, “affliction certificate”) by local governments. These are divided into four types, with compensation levels determined by type: 「全壊」「大規模半壊」「半壊」「一部損壊」“completely destroyed,” “large-scale partial destruction,” “partially destroyed,” and “some damage.” Murakami-san’s predicament is that, while his house was judged to be in the latter, least-severe category, subsidence has left his property over a meter below the bordering road, which not only prevents access to the property but leaves it in great danger of flooding, as the photograph at the link will attest. The article notes that government officials are aware of this loophole as several other Kumamoto residents are facing similar circumstances and are working to provide a solution. Let’s hope they do before rainy season.
The first link is to Murakami-san’s predicament; the second to the special law.