The firemen of Kesennuma City in Miyagi Prefecture faced serious problems when the Great East Japan Earthquake cut off communication tools, including mobile phones. They couldn’t transmit on-site reports because their radios functioned only for reception. Local taxi drivers came to their rescue with their analog radios, providing support at the disaster HQ, evacuation sites and mortuaries. Learning from this, Kesennuma has been developing a multiplex information communication system. The program looks at ways to improve communications when a disaster strikes.