This paper assesses the suitability of the early warning systems and post-disaster housing for the elderly population of Japan in the immediate and transitional recovery phase of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Written questionnaires and informal group interviews were conducted with residents of six temporary housing complexes in Miyagi and Iwate three and half years after the disaster. The median age of participants was 70, with an age range of 48 years. We assess rates of warning receipt in the immediacy of the event, evacuation actions thereafter, and the experience of living temporary accommodation. 81% of those surveyed received at least one type of earthquake or tsunami warning, the most common being an Audio Mobile Phone (AMP) message (which is received through a smart phone), heard by 45% of the sample. Radio, siren, and AMP notifications were most effective at informing the elderly overall. 84% of recipients took action in response to a tsunami warning, with 79% of respondents evacuating their homes prior to the arrival of the first wave. During the transitional phase of recovery, residents within temporary housing highlighted issues including a lack of floor space, poor thermal insulation, solitary living environments, and reduced privacy, which lead to stressed domestic relationships within families and social groups. Recommendations are made to adopted strategies affect or remediate relative vulnerabilities between different groups.In the context of early warning, Mileti [8] synthesised contemporary academic discourse on how the individuals respond to disaster information when received, and the purpose and content of warning messages. In all, 8 overarching themes are identified; regarding this study, findings 2-8 are of significance, with 6 and 7 regarded as particularly pertinent, due to the demographic in question:2. "Education about the warning system is needed before an event".3. "Alerting needs to attract attention". 4. "People seek social confirmation of warnings before taking protective action". 5. "Messages should contain information that is important to the population". 6. "Responders should consider the demographics of affected populations when preparing warning messages." 7. "Access for those with disabilities must be considered when developing alert or warning systems". 8. "Alerting and warning is a process, not a single act."A number of theoretical models can be used to further identify the modes through which individuals will respond or cope with a hazard or threat. The majority of these, particularly the Precaution Adoption Process Model (PAPM) [9] and Transtheoretical Model (TTM) [10] are tailored toward health behaviour [11]. However, Lindell & Perry's [12] Protective Action Decision Model (PADM), explores how decisions are made by individuals in an emergency setting. Using evidence from prior research into individual disaster response, the model places a strong emphasis on "predecision