- If the lifeline stops (no electricity, hydro, gas), the chance is that you can not use your bank card to get some cash nor use the credit card. Always best to carry some CASH and COINS (to use public phone) with you.
- Before going to bed, refrain leaving dishes in the kitchen but put them away.
- Good to keep some water/hot water in the sink/bath tub (for possible fire).
- Keep a pair of slippers wrapped in a plastic bag by the bed (so you can wear it even if the floor gets full of broken glass)
2020年5月7日木曜日
A few personal tips
Not sure this covers in the guidebook, so I wish to note here:
Step 6. Return Home? or somewhere Safe
Check the list of essential emergency items you can prepare in any event the lifeline stops by checking the list recommended.
Step 5. Is it Pre-earthquake? Main Earthquake?...
We all know that there will be always pre-earthquake(s) before a main earthquake which acts as a warning.
But what if we would mistakenly assume the pre-earthquake to be main earthquake after spending 2-3 days in an evacuation place and being attacked by a major one upon return.. 😰
So best to pay attention to the alert and guidance from the app.
But what if we would mistakenly assume the pre-earthquake to be main earthquake after spending 2-3 days in an evacuation place and being attacked by a major one upon return.. 😰
So best to pay attention to the alert and guidance from the app.
Step 4. Seeking HELP! SOS!!
I live on 1F, so I do not expect myself to be able to come back to my place if a mega earthquake happens.
So I am getting the following ready:
So I am getting the following ready:
- Whistle
- Bright color (orange) vest and/or
- Flag (hard to find, so I decided to go with the vest)
Do you think any of these people expected themselves where they had to evacuate to the roof top seeking help when 3.11 /Kumamoto earthquake happened?
Step 3. Simulate your evacuation plans
List of things to check
- Where are you going to evacuate to? Because of a possible Tsunami and Flooding, it is best you evacuate to somewhere higher than 3F floor asap first.
- Check where you can evacuate to by physically go there. Do you think you would be safe there? What about unexpected fire? will you be able to evacuate easily in such case?
- What about main entrance? is it made in a way you would be able to evacuate quickly?
- Check your neighborhood. Any buildings that may collapse easily?
- It maybe good to have a few evacuation simulation plans ready.
- Go through your simulation with this mindset that others/neighbors are NOT prepared. Even if you are alert, if your neighbor isn't, then you can get affected by the fire from the neighbor, you know? when emergency happens especially, you really have no time to create conflicts with others, but help each other for survival. So best to go through the simulation now, and make a list of things to do. I will personally call the building maintenance company to UNLOCK the door to the rooftop and clarify how we can OPEN the auto-lock door when electricity gets down. No, we would not want to be stuck inside! lol
Step 2. Find out how secure your place is
Because of the current COVID-19, my city suggests NOT TO GO TO THE EVACUATION SITE even if we get a mega earthquake, but to consider staying home as much as possible.
So I suggest you check whether your building is made of wood or steel.
If wood, you need to try to evacuate to outside as soon as possible, since we have seen houses and castles collapsing as if being slapped down.
If steel, then when the earthquake happens and if you were at home, try to protect yourself from possible broken glass by wrapping yourself in a blanket and go near the entrance as the entrance usually is the strongest part of the house.
I personally prepare a pair of slippers wrapped in a plastic bag by my bed because of possible glass all over my bedroom floor.
Keep your emergency backpack, a pair of running shoes and a helmet near you (entrance or bed).
Earthquake Forecast
You may also want to find out how big of an earthquake/damage you can expect where you live here (Japanese).
Find out elevation of your area (to know how much flooding/tsunami affect you may have)
Here (Japanese)
So I suggest you check whether your building is made of wood or steel.
If wood, you need to try to evacuate to outside as soon as possible, since we have seen houses and castles collapsing as if being slapped down.
If steel, then when the earthquake happens and if you were at home, try to protect yourself from possible broken glass by wrapping yourself in a blanket and go near the entrance as the entrance usually is the strongest part of the house.
I personally prepare a pair of slippers wrapped in a plastic bag by my bed because of possible glass all over my bedroom floor.
Keep your emergency backpack, a pair of running shoes and a helmet near you (entrance or bed).
Earthquake Forecast
You may also want to find out how big of an earthquake/damage you can expect where you live here (Japanese).
Find out elevation of your area (to know how much flooding/tsunami affect you may have)
Here (Japanese)
Step 1: Get your emergency supply and Disaster alert app
Tokyo Disaster Readiness Guide and mobile App by Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Download App:
[Tokyo disaster prevention mode]
You can learn the basics of actions to be taken in the event of a disaster by using the contents of the disaster prevention book "Tokyo Disaster Prevention".
[Tokyo Living Disaster Prevention Mode]
It is a content of the disaster prevention book "Tokyo Living Disaster Prevention", and it is possible to learn disaster prevention measures that can be tackled in daily life.
[Disaster mode]
It is equipped with the necessary knowledge and functions when an actual disaster occurs.
Download App:
I have tried the iOS app, and it seems you can register your residence to find out where is your nearest evacuation site.
It also covers:
- Disaster prevention map
- Earthquake information
- Weather information
- Evacuation information
- Tsunami information
- Volcano information
The app has a lot to read, but is consist of the Tokyo Disaster Readiness Guidebook that was issued after 3.11 and I thought was very useful.
Make sure to check Things to do List here, which I used to prepare my emergency supply and backpack personally.
Other Similar App:
Other Similar App:
2020年5月6日水曜日
Reason for this page
As we deal with the PANDEMIC COVID-19, we have to know how to survive IF any mega earthquake happens, since it is not like we can go to the evacuation site, which will be a risk for us getting the virus.
The purpose of this blog is:
Growing up in Japan, my grandmother, who gave me my name always shared a story of this M7.9 mega earthquake hitting Tokyo on the month when she was born in Sep 1923. It will be nearly 97 years since then.
The purpose of this blog is:
- To raise awareness that we can expect a mega earthquake anytime soon (it is not something we can avoid living in Japan),
- To prepare ourselves for it, so we can survive.
Background
Living in Japan to deal with the earthquakes is something unavoidable.
Many of you may recall 3.11 mega earthquake where tsunami sucked thousands people's lives.
Well, we have had many massive earthquakes historically.
However, because of the normality bias, it's quite easy to forget how threatening experience we had with 3.11 in 2011, where the tsunami swallowed thousands of lives in an eye blink, or how the M7 earthquake in Kumamoto totally collapsing the historical building like the Aso shrine.
However, because of the normality bias, it's quite easy to forget how threatening experience we had with 3.11 in 2011, where the tsunami swallowed thousands of lives in an eye blink, or how the M7 earthquake in Kumamoto totally collapsing the historical building like the Aso shrine.
I do not know how many documentary and tv programs that were aired since 3.11, warning us of a possible next mega earthquakes. Most of the Japanese citizens are very aware of this fact that we could face a mega earthquake based in Tokyo and/or in the Kanto region. But how many of us were ready for such a thing if we are told we are getting it this month? 😏
The last great quake to hit Tokyo was in 1923. Experts estimate the next one is due roughly a century on, with an estimated 70% chance of a magnitude-7 quake hitting Tokyo before 2050. It is no longer a question of if but when the big one will come.
Funny Feeling
A few days after we welcomed 2020, I just could not stop feeling how the world will split us into two: one based on ego and another based on love by a possible nature disaster.
So I bought all these emergency food supply, where we could make cooked meal by pouring either water or hot water. The price of this product as well as emergency blanket now costs x3. The pre-packed emergency backpack now apparently is no. 1 selling item today at Rakuten! It is clear that there is a higher demand now. Btw, this was actually the first time I bought anything like it to be honest. I do not know what it is, but I just had this really funny feeling that we have to be prepared. So since this Jan, I gradually collected all these items for the what ifs.
As per the recent many frequent earthquakes, I started to really feel funny about it again.
I saw this twitter warning that we could have a M6 level earthquake on 6th or 7th of May, when I was about to sleep.
So I bought all these emergency food supply, where we could make cooked meal by pouring either water or hot water. The price of this product as well as emergency blanket now costs x3. The pre-packed emergency backpack now apparently is no. 1 selling item today at Rakuten! It is clear that there is a higher demand now. Btw, this was actually the first time I bought anything like it to be honest. I do not know what it is, but I just had this really funny feeling that we have to be prepared. So since this Jan, I gradually collected all these items for the what ifs.
As per the recent many frequent earthquakes, I started to really feel funny about it again.
I saw this twitter warning that we could have a M6 level earthquake on 6th or 7th of May, when I was about to sleep.
（5月6日または5月7日）東京、日本エリアで6.2地震が発生する可能性がある - https://t.co/9gnY4xO5Is pic.twitter.com/Gm6PmqrBt6— Japan Earthquakes (@earthquakejapan) May 4, 2020
Then I woke up with a warning message from my baby sister alerting me of the same but with a different source.
I called my dad and we were like, "Yap, I think we now have to be quite serious about preparing ourselves now".
So I checked my emergency supply for any event the lifeline stops as per a mega earthquake, only to remind myself.. What about the emergency bag?
I used to collect my emergency supply goods in this box after 3.11, but this time I felt I need to actually pack everything in a backpack and actually be ready to evacuate.
I went through a mental simulation, what I would do if a mega earthquake happens.. and more I visualize about it, it helped me understand a few things I had to take actions.
Why do I prepare myself?
The experts are reminding us to prepare for the mega earthquakes lately now I also realized, so I think this time, I think we have to face this.
After experiencing the COVID-19, it does not really surprise me anymore even if we are been hit by a mega earthquake now.
On the positive side, while being asked to stay at home, it actually helps us prepare better though, rather than being stuck unprepared outside of our home.
Also, if I know how to survive then I will have energy to help others, don't I?
I feel that my mission here on earth is to help others as much as I can, so I am preparing myself remembering how hopeless 3.11 made me feel watching all these people being sucked by tsunami at front of my eye over a live TV.
It is better to be prepared than be sorry, when dealing with a mega earthquake, which we do not know what to expect but we can at least prepare for the worst, you know?
Do you think the victims of 3.11 prepared themselves if they knew that mega earthquake would hit Japan back then?
I hope you find this blog useful.
Thanks and let's be careful!
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