都道府県は、基本理念にのつとり、当該都道府県の地域並びに当該都道府県の住民の生命、身体及び財産を災害から保護するため、関係機関及び他の地方公共団体の協力を得て、当該都道府県の地域に係る防災に関する計画を作成し、及び法令に基づきこれを実施するとともに、その区域内の市町村及び指定地方公共機関が処理する防災に関する事務又は業務の実施を助け、かつ、その総合調整を行う責務を有する。
Based on the basic principles and in the interest of protecting the area of a prefecture, and the lives, bodies, and properties of its residents from disaster, the prefecture has the responsibility to formulate a disaster management plan concerning an area of the relevant prefecture with the cooperation of related organs and other local governments, implement the plan on the basis of laws and regulations, and at the same time, assist in the implementation of affairs or operations concerning disaster management handled by municipalities and designated local public corporations within the area, and undertake the overall coordination of the implementation.