In the wake of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, people recognized the limitations of the administrative activities during a large-scale wide-area disaster. Furthermore, people became particularly aware of the importance of “self-help” and “mutual help.” Consequently, the government amended the Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act in June 2013 and established the Community Disaster Management Plan to strategize disaster management and response activities by businesses and residents of the local community. On the other hand, people are worried about the Nankai Trough and Tokyo Inland Earthquakes. In this forum, we discusses the relationship between local capacities to mitigate and cope with disasters and the Community Disaster Management Plan after the Great East Japan Earthquake.