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Japan Is an Earthquake-Prone Country |
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| Inquiries: |
Project Promotion Section,
Security Affairs Division |
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■What to Do When an Earthquake Strikes |
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When an earthquake strikes, please remain calm and take the following action. It is important to be prepared at all times.
■If You Are Indoors
- If you notice a tremor, protect yourself by hiding under a sturdy table.
- Turn off gas, stove and other fire-using equipment. (Don’t try too hard while the tremor is strong.)
- Open a door or window to secure an exit.
- Do not rush outside in a panic as there may be falling objects.
- Do not evacuate by elevator.
■If You Are Outdoors
- Be careful of falling items, such as glass and billboards.
- Stay away from block walls, vending machines, and other structures that may topple over or fall.
- If you are on public transportation, underground shopping arcade or a department store, follow the instructions of the staff.
- If you are driving a car, pull over to the left side of the road, leave the key in the ignition (in case the car needs to be moved to let emergency vehicles through) and evacuate on foot.
■When the Tremor is Over
- Gather correct information through the radio. Do not believe false rumors.
- Find out whether your family members are safe.
- Help people trapped under a building or those injured.
- Turn off the main gas valve and turn off the breaker.
- Evacuate to an evacuation site if there is a risk your residence may collapse or catch fire. (Do not use a car to evacuate.)
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■Be Constantly Prepared for Earthquakes |
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Japan Is an Earthquake-Prone Country. We need to be prepared for earthquakes on a regular basis. Please be prepared so you won’t panic in an emergency.
- Secure furniture with braces so that they will not topple over (earthquake tremors can do more damage than expected)
■Securing the Safety of Your Home
(Preventing Furniture from Falling Over)
About 80% of the victims of the 1995 Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake died from being crushed by a building or furniture.
Secure furniture to prevent it from toppling over
◎The City Office offers coordinating services for furniture falling prevention equipment.
For details, please read the catalogue distributed at the Security Affairs Division, Shinjuku Municipal Disaster Prevention Center and Branch Offices.
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| Inquiries: |
Shinjuku Municipal Disaster Prevention Center
Tel: 5361-2460 |
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■Quake-Resistance Examination and Reinforcing Quake-Resistance |
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Houses built before 1981 when quake-proof standards were changed should undergo a quake-resistance examination to avoid the risk of collapse if a major earthquake strikes. If the examination concludes that your house is not quake-resistant, please strengthen pillars, walls, the substructure, etc.
◎The city subsidizes citizens for quake-resistance examinations and quake-resistance upgrading work.
| Inquiries: |
Building and Equipment Section, Construction Advisory Division
Tel: 5273-3745 |
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■Reinforcing Block Walls |
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Please have your block walls examined because they may be too old or may not contain reinforced steel. Reinforce the wall if necessary.
- Add supporting concrete walls.
- Replace block walls with planting fences.
◎The city subsidizes citizens who use planting fences as a replacement for block walls facing roads and who remove the block walls for this purpose.
| Inquiries: |
Greenery Section, Greenery Affairs and Parks Division
Tel: 5273-3924 |
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◎The city subsidizes citizens to remove block walls with no further conditions applicable.
| Inquiries: |
Building and Equipment Section, Construction Advisory Division
Tel: 5273-3745 |
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■Reinforcing Cliffs |
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If you are the owner of a cliff, please check the following points to avoid an earthquake from triggering a landslide there.
- Are there spaces between the rocks piled up to reinforce the cliff? Does the cliff have a bulge?
- Are there cracks on the cliff?
- Have the rocks piled up to reinforce the cliff moved from their original position?
- Do you notice mud water pouring out from between the rocks?
◎The city subsidizes citizens to reinforce cliffs.
| Inquiries: |
Construction Planning Section, Construction Advisory Division
Tel: 5273-3732 |
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■Prepare an Emergency Backpack |
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Keep an emergency backpack handy with items necessary for daily life and a first-aid kit. We recommend that you put the following items in the backpack.
Note: Don’t overstuff the backpack as you would have difficulty carrying it around. Three kilograms should be considered the maximum weight.
- Food (canned food, can opener, pouch-packed food, snacks), water
- Matches, a lighter.
- Medicine (medicine usually kept at home)
- Valuables (bank book, seal, cash, health insurance certificate, foreign registration card)
- Flashlights, a portable radio, a cell phone (Keep it charged.)
- Eye glasses etc.
What to prepare for an emergency backpack
◎The City Office offers coordinating services for disaster prevention goods.
| Inquiries: |
Shinjuku Municipal Disaster Prevention Center
Tel: 5361-2460 |
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■Hold Evacuation Meetings with Your Family and Friends |
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Discuss and decide on the following topics so that you won’t panic if a major earthquake strikes.
- The safest place in the house.
- Where evacuation sites and evacuation areas are located. (Actually walk to the sites.)
- Where to keep emergency backpacks.
- How to get in touch with and to learn of the safety of family members who are outside the house.
■Make Use of NTT Disaster Message Dial Service
This is a convenient system to get in touch with and to learn the safety of residents of disaster-struck area. It can be used even when there is difficulty getting telephone lines through to the area.
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How to Use Disaster Message Service Dial 171 |
| Dial 171 and follow the instructions to record or play a message. NTT determines when this service is available and such conditions as the maximum number of recorded messages, and the service will be announced via TV and radio. |
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<To Record a Message> |
<To Play a Message> |
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Dial 171 |
Dial 171 |
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▼A recording will give instructions. |
▼A recording will give instructions |
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To record a message, press 1 |
To play a message, press 2 |
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▼A recording will give instructions. |
▼A recording will give instructions. |
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Press (03)×××× - ×××× |
Press (03)×××× - ×××× |
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Those calling from within the disaster-struck area as well as those calling from outside, should dial the telephone number of the person in the disaster-struck area, starting with the area code. |
■Participate in Disaster Prevention Activities
Disaster prevention resident organizations to coordinate neighborhood activities when a disaster strikes are organized by community.
It is a good idea to participate in the disaster prevention drills conducted by disaster prevention resident organizations, to be constantly prepared and to become familiar with the community disaster prevention system.
■Rental of Disaster Prevention Videos
Videos and movies are available for rent as reference materials for spreading information on disaster prevention and preparing residents for disasters.
Can You Survive!?—A Major Earthquake Strikes Shinjuku (about 18 minutes) is a video on tips on how to prepare for earthquakes and is available in English, Chinese, and Korean. It can be rented at the Security Affairs Division, branch offices, and Construction Advisory Division.
| Inquiries: |
Shinjuku Municipal Disaster Prevention Center
Tel: 5361-2460 |
■Ride on An Earthquake Experience Car
An earthquake experiencing car has been dispatched for disaster drills held by anti-disaster resident groups and schools. You can experience a seismic intensity level of seven on the car. More use of the car at local anti-disaster drills will enable more people to experience what a major quake is like and help them learn how to behave appropriately in such a situation.
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■Seismic Intensity of Earthquakes |
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The seismic intensity of earthquakes and the effects that can be expected at each level are shown below. However, actual damage could be greater or less than described below, even though the seismic intensity may be the same as the figure listed. The actual effect depends on the buildings and ground condition of the area. In addition, the seismic intensity announced by the Meteorological Agency is the figure as measured by a seismograph. The figure does not represent the actual effects of a tremor.
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Seismic Intensity |
What Can Be Expected to Occur |
Level
4 |
Most of those who are sleeping will wake up. Hanging items will sway; dinnerware in the cupboard will rattle. Those who are walking will also feel the tremor. |
5
(Weak) |
Many people will try to protect themselves. Dinnerware in cupboards and books from shelves will fall, and furniture may move. You can see utility poles swaying. Block walls may crumble. |
5
(Strong) |
Many people will have difficulty moving. Heavy furniture such as bureaus may topple over. Driving a car becomes difficult. Gas pipes and main water pipes in households may be damaged. |
6
(Weak) |
Standing is difficult. It will be difficult to open many doors. Many buildings will suffer such damage as falling wall tiles and broken window panes. The ground may split and mountains may crumble. |
6
(Strong) |
It is difficult to move unless you crawl. Housing that is low in earthquake-resistance will collapse. Some communities will have blackouts. Gas and water services may be stopped for many communities. |
7 |
Tossed about by the tremor, you will not be able to move at will. Even highly earthquake resistant housing may suffer great damage. Electricity, gas and water services may be stopped for many communities. With landslides and mountains crumbling, the ground may be deformed. |
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■Evacuation |
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●Temporary Gathering Site
A temporary gathering site is a place to stay temporarily to grasp the situation before going to evacuation sites and evacuation areas.
●Evacuation Areas
Large parks and public squares are designated as evacuation areas so that you can protect yourself from small and large fires when a major earthquake strikes.
●Evacuation Sites
These are locations for evacuation and temporary accommodation if your house is destroyed due to a disaster such as an earthquake or flood, or if you are unable to live in your own home because the utilities have been cut off. They serve as centers to provide information, distribute food and perform first aid. (See map)
●When and Where to Evacuate
1. When the tremor stops, proceed to a temporary gathering site, usually a nearby park or an empty space, to grasp the situation.
2. If a large fire breaks out that threatens the safety of your residence and the nearby evacuation site, go to an evacuation area.
3. If your residence or a nearby building collapses or burns, preventing you from returning home, go to an evacuation site (e.g. a school). |
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Preparing for Disasters
