地震　Earthquake　No.2

How to mitigate the risks

24th February – 如月

It is not guaranteed that when you visit Japan, there will not be any natural disasters – earthquake can occur anytime anywhere in Japan.

Today’s blog will explain how to behave in several situation when you encounter earthquake in Japan.

When you are inside buildings

First when the earthquake happens while you are inside the building, protect your head with bags, chairs, desks and keep away from glasses, windows. Then wear the closed-toe shoes. If there is nothing to hide your head, find the spot where are fixed furniture like sofa, bed and hide the triangle spot made with ground and furniture .

It is better to open the windows and doors in order to make an escape way to get out from the building when the earthquake stops. The reason is the shakes warp the flame of the building and might not be able to open. Also if you were cooking when the earthquake starts, it is better to keep away from it, as shakes can spill the boiling water from the pans. Once the shakes stop, you can close the gas so that it can avoid the second disaster – fire. It is known that when seismic intensity is more than 5, the gas company will automatically stops gas. But most importantly, protecting your head is a must and first.

When you are ready to evacuate, it is better to cut the circuit breakers off, and pull out the electricity plugs so it mitigates the risk of fire in the house.

When you are outside buildings

If you encounter earthquake while you are outside from the building, please move to the area where does not have high building – areas like parks. Also when you evacuate, do not forget to protect your head all the time as things can fall down from the buildings around.

When you are driving

In this case, avoid the areas like intersection and park to the left side. Then evacuate to the areas like parks.

When you are inside the elevator

There is a possibility that you might stuck inside the elevator, therefore, press all the floors and get off as soon as the elevator stops at any floor. If you could not get out, there are emergency phone inside the elevator so contact people from there.

If you are in the supermarket

Use the shopping basket as a helmet to protect the head. Evacuate to outside following the green evacuation sign.

If you are climbing mountain

Keep away from the cliffs and be careful for the landslide.

If you are close from the sea

Evacuate to the place where are higher than at least 3rd floor, but it is better to evacuate areas where is not so close from the sea. if there are cautions for Tsunami, find a car and evacuate from the sea area. It was told that when Eastern Japan earthquake happened in 2011, people who did car pool to get out from the sea and evacuated to the higher area were survived. As Tsunami comes very fast phase, it is very important to evacuate with cars. Importantly, do not go down the hill yet even the tsunami seems stopped, as the wave can come back again and again.

And some more useful information:

-There is a message dial for people who are affected by the earthquake. When there are earthquake, many people try to contact relatives, friends, so the internet and phone connection becomes very bad and most people cannot use them. In that case, you can use the system called 災害用伝言ダイアル (Saigaiyou dengon daiaru), to leave and listen message on the phone.

171+1+phone number – To leave message

171+2+phone number – To listen message

Maybe set the family house phone number as the emergency contacts so all your family can leave / listen the message.

-It is always nice to be prepared all the emergency goods at home, but if you were on vacation, bring some food, water, battery, phone, warm clothes with long sleeve, torch and gloves can help after the disaster.

Many Japanese families keep their emergency bags at home, if you are living in Japan, it is better to prepare those, most of the emergency long-lasting food can be purchased most shops.

I hope as many people can survive from the earthquakes in Japan, believing knowing those things can help people and save lives.