Disaster Preparedness In Japan Survival Guide

Disaster Preparedness in Japan Opening Remarks

People in Japan begin preparing for disasters as early as kindergarten. Acting in an orderly way and knowing what to do before hand so that it is almost second nature is considered essential for survival. For most people who come to Japan later in life the Disaster Prevention part of Japanese culture can seem like a mystery because most of the hard work in preparing the person to carry out these duties is done in childhood. It seems somewhat magical that people seem to just somehow know what to do and complete these very complex tasks as though they were second nature. Here are some useful things to look out for and tips for disaster preparedness in Japan.

This also makes it difficult for Japanese people to teach foreign adults who do not come from natural disaster prone areas because it is just considered something that everybody is simply expected to know what to do and they learned it at such an early age that they can’t remember not having been able to do it at one time. Because of this disaster preparedness in Japan is not really included in the training of most foreign people for daily life.

So people who came to Japan later must take special care to do it on their own. The city of Tokyo has an excellent manual for disaster prevention and preparedness that is free online for everybody. By all means check out the link for it below and hunt down your local city’s disaster prevention web portal or go to your local library or civic center to find more materials. Not being a dead weight in case of an emergency will definitely earn you some extra points in the eyes of your neighbors.

Getting Ready For Disasters In Japan

Take Part In Training Exercises

Disaster preparedness in Japan is something lived every day by the people here. It is really important long term visitors and residents of this country take part in emergency drill training whenever the chance arises. For people who live in large apartment buildings there should be a day once a year when the fire department will give a short seminar on what to do in case of a fire and provide a simulation of going through a smoke like environment or earthquake. City festivals will also have simulations and the possibility for further experience in fire and earthquake preparedness. Public school teachers, especially elementary schools, also have occasional fire and earthquake drills. All of these are excellent chances to participate and prepare for the eventual Big disaster that is always expected to happen sometime in the near future.

Review Disaster Plans

People living in Japan should have planned out a meeting place such as their apartment or local evacuation site or shelter to go to and meet their family as well as pre-planned the rout to go there on foot just in case public transportation has been shut down. This is highly useful because in an large scale disaster public communication infrastructure may be overwhelmed and/or partially destroyed. Just knowing where everybody is supposed to meet up at and approximately when to expect them is a big help in case communication breaks down.

Inspect Your Home

Disaster preparedness in Japan is also at home. Large furniture such as tall bookshelves, kitchen cabinets (not built in), and even air-conditioners can sway and topple over. Depending how big and heavy and how much stuff was contained this can mean anything from a big mess to death to someone caught underneath. Small earthquakes through Level 3 shouldn’t cause much problem, but this country is famous for much larger earthquakes.

To prepare for a Level 4 or above earthquake people should make sure that these are firmly fastened to a wall or the ceiling. Home Supply stores should furnish people with everything they need to be ready. Most people may need anchors for bookshelves, cabinets, and dressers as well as shatter prevention film for your windows. It is possible to have someone come and assess the earthquake proofness of your home. Disaster preparedness in Japan takes in almost all possibilities for helping survive whatever may come.

Prepare Disaster Supplies

In case of a large scale disaster people should have at least three days of bottled water (three liters per person, per day), emergency food (also three days at least), fuel or cooking and heating (and small portable stove as well), and any extra supplies that you think you may need (toilet paper, etc.). You should check on a regular basis (like once every three months) to make sure that the food is not past its expiration date.

The Necessities

It is recommended to have in ready supply the following items

3 liters of water for one person a day to last for three days. So a family of four should have approximately 36 liters of water prepared for emergencies.
Emergency packaged food.
Clothing. Speciically clothes and gloves for physical work and underwear. A jacket might also be a good idea as well.
A small portable AM/FM radio for listening to news updates.
First aid supplies such as bandaids, bandages, and anti-septics as well as any medicines that have to be taken.
A lighter. Preferably one that uses wind withstanding oil.
Cash money. If electricity is off then electronic transactions won’t be possible.
Identification card/s.
Other things that can be strongly cnsidered are mobile phones, helmets, can openers, toilet paper, tissue, plastic bags, towels, portable gas stove with extra gas and extra batteries.

Find Your Nearest Evacuation Place Or Shelter

Disaster Prevention Map aka Bousai Map or Hazard Map | 防災マップ・ハザードマップ

Every city is required to have and make freely available the local Disaster or Hazard Map. You can find these as most city centers, libraries, and culture centers. By all means pick one up and find your closeset evacuation center or shelter. Depending on the wealth of the city and its general proclivity, these maps may be available in English and other foreign languages and have a lot of extra information on how to prepare and what to do in a large scale emergency. You can copy and paste the above Japanese name for these maps plus your city name and your should find a pdf file for your local area.

What To Do In Case Of A Disaster

What To Do In Case Of A Major Earthquake (Level 4 Or Above)

If You Are At Home

1) Take Care of Yourself

During and in the first few minutes after a major earthquake you should take shelter where you are by going under a table or another place to be safe from falling debris.

2) Put Out Any Fires

After the earthquake has subsided for a couple of minutes immediately put out any fires. For example turn off the stove if you were cooking or use your fire extenguisher to put out any small fires that might have started in your apartment.

3) Decide if you need to evacuate

After securing your safety and apartment within the next five to ten minutes you need to decide if you can safely stay in your apartment or should go to an evacuation sight. If you choose to go the eveacuation sight you should get your prepared Go Bag/s and turn off all the circuit breakers in your apartment before you leave. The general rule of thumb if you live in a large apartment building is if the building looks like it is beginning to lean over to one side or fires have started, then you should evacuate even if your apartment is OK. But if the building is still sound and there are no other fires, then you should stay if your apartment is still in reasonably good condition.

4)Help Others In Your Area

For the next several hours you should lend a helping hand and work together as a group to handle problems that are too big for any one person. At this time you should also be considering if it is possible for you to pick up your children or day care or school (they are in the care of their teachers until you do so).

If You Are Away From Home

Natural disasters such as earthquakes can happen at anytime, for example when we are at work or shopping. These are the basic steps for what to do next in such a situation.

1) Don’t React Immediately

Stay calm, take care of your saety first by protecting your head and neck, then wait for instructions on what to do next if you are in a place of business or shopping center from the staff. A big part of disaster preparedness in Japan in not panicking and making a big mess of things. Being calm and acting in an orderly and deliberate way are considered to be very good personal qualities here.

2) Get Up To Date Information

Its important to act according to verified information from public sources. Don’t react to unverified rumors or information from dubious sources.

3) Help Out

Elderly and disabled people are at especial risk. Help out rescuing other people as much as possible until you can return home.

4) Contact Your Family

Communication may be overwhelmed, but NTT has an emergency voice message board for leaving messages to your family using your phone.

Disaster Declaration Dial

Recording Method: 171-1-(XXX)XXX-XXXX -> Recording
Replaying Method: 171-2-(XXX)XXX-XXXX -> Replay Message
Secure Recording Method – Have 4-digit pin decided upon ahead of time!: 171-3-####-(XXX)XXX-XXXX
Secure Replaying Method: 171-4-####-(XXX)XXX-XXXX

What To Do In Case Of Major Flooding In Your Area

Disaster preparedness in Japan is not just for earthquakes, but flooding and typhoons are seasonal dangers as well… especially from September throug October! The City Authorities or Fire Department will issue an evacuation order over the Municipal Disaster Prevention Radio System (you will need to check it out which radio station that is in your local area). NHK will also broadcast alerts, but may be a little slower to get the message out. You can either evacuate to the evacuation centers (usually a nearby public school) or go to the higher floors of your building (usually third floor and above).

Also check out the Flooding Section of the Tsuyu Survival Guide

References

In English

Koto Ward, Tokyo Metropolis Disaster Prevention and Hazard Map

Tokyo Metropolis Manual for Disaster Prevention and Preparation

Tokyo Metropolis Online Map For Disaster Preparedness Including Shelters, Evacuation Centers, Etc.

Koto Ward, Tokyo Metropolis Disaster Prevention Information Page

Image Thanks To Photo by Mitsuo Komoriya on Unsplash, Tatsuo Yamashita @ Flickr.com, An Unknown Photographer @ PickPik.com & Another Unknown Photographer @ MaxPixel.com.

About the Author

Pjechorin

I have lived and worked with my family in Japan since 2005. For many years I have been interested in the very practical and creative side of Japanese culture. In my free time I travel around, enjoy hiking in the countryside and cities, and just generally seeing and doing new things. This blog is primarily a way for me to focus my energies and record and teach others about what I have learned by experience constructively. I am interested in urban development, and sustainable micro-economics, especially home-economics, and practical things everyday families can do to survive and thrive through these changing times.