Are you prepared fordisasters?
1. Earthquakes
Earthquakes can’t be prevented, but the damage they cause can be minimized with precautionary
measures and mental preparation.
Why do earthquakes occur?
The earth’s surface is covered with a dozen or so huge slabs of rock called t ectonic plates, whichmove several centimeters a year in different directions. At the boundaries, these plates come into
contact and slide past one another, or one plate may be driven beneath another. Around Japan,
oceanic plates subduct below continental plates. At boundaries like these, large earthquakes occur.
The accumulation of strain energy caused by subduction also affects interior parts of continental
plates, causing earthquakes in shallow underground areas.

Tsunami generation
TrenchContinental plate

Strain accumulation

Oceanic plate

Continental plate

Oceanic plate

Continental plate

Oceanic plate

Subduction
Upthrust

Human perception of seismic intensity
Seismic intensity values describe the scale of ground motion, and are determined using data fromseismic intensity meters installed nationwide. The Japan Meteorological Agency seismic intensity
scale runs from 0 to 7 with two divisions for le vels 5 and 6 (5 lower/upper and 6 lower/upper) due
to the wide range of damage they can cause. Accordingly, there are 10 levels of intensity on thescale.
Intensity 0

Intensity 1

Intensity 2

Earthquakes

Human perception
and indoor
situations basedon seismic scale
Perception:
Imperceptible to people.

Perception:
Felt slightly by somepeople in buildings.

Perception:
Felt by many people inbuildings. Sleeping
people may be awoken.
Indoor situation:
Light fittings and otherhanging objects swing
slightly.

Intensity 3Intensity 4

Intensity 5 lower

Intensity 5 upper

Perception:
Felt by most people inbuildings. Some people
may be startled.

Perception:
Most people arestartled. Some may try
to shelter in a safe
place. Most sleeping
people are awoken.

Perception:
Many people try to
shelter in a safe place.
Some may havedifficulty moving.

Perception:
Many people arefrightened and havedifficulty moving.

Indoor situation:
Light fittings and otherhanging objects swing
slightly.

Intensity 6 lower

Perception:
It is difficult to remain
standing.

Indoor situation:Indoor situation:
Hanging objects swing
Hanging objects swing violently. Dishes inconsiderably and dishes cupboards and items onin cupboards rattle.
bookshelves may fall.
Unstable ornaments
Many unstable
may fall.
ornaments fall.
Unsecured furniture
may move.

Intensity 6 upper

Intensity 7

Perception:
Perception:
It is impossible toPeople have difficulty
remain standing or
moving as intended.
move without crawling.
Indoor situation:
Indoor situation:
Unsecured heavy
Indoor situation:
Most furniture moves
furniture moves or
Most unsecured heavy and topples over, or
topples over. Doors
furniture moves or
may even be thrown
become stuck and do not topples over. Somethrough the air.
open.
doors may become
separated from theirframes and be thrownthrough the air.

Indoor situation:
Dishes in cupboards
and items on
bookshelves fall. TVs
may fall from theirstands, and heavy
furniture such as
chests of drawers may
topple over. Frame
deformation may
make it impossible toopen doors. Some
doors may become
detached from theirframes.

Preparations for earthquakes
Securement of indoor safety

Keep these
items at hand.

 Fasten furniture to walls or ceilings to prevent it from falling over. Keep heavy objects in lowplaces.
 Keep sleeping areas, porches and other spaces clear of items or objects that could fall over.
 Place shatterproof film on glass surfaces.
 Keep a flashlight and slippers at hand to aid safe movement.

S avings
pass boo k

Don’t forget to takevaluables with you.

Stocks of essentials (emergency kit)

 Water: Each person needs three liters of water per day. Make sure there is enough for you andyour family.
 Food: Store at least three days worth of non-perishable food (e.g., canned/pouched rice orprocessed quick-cooking rice, canned/bottled items).
 Camping stove and fuel
 Flashlight: Each person should have a flashlight in case of blackouts.
 Radio for accurate information
 Valuables, first-aid medicine, underwear, rainwear and other necessities. These should beplaced in an emergency kit bag and kept in an easily retrievable place.

When an earthquake strikes
Indoors If you feel a tremor, don’t rush outside. Ensure your own safety first: protect your head with acushion or similar, and shelter under a sturdy desk or table.
 Turn off gas, stoves and similar.
 In mid-to-high-rise buildings (e.g., condominiums), open the entrance do or and/or the door to
the evacuation passage to secure an escape route.

Outdoors
 Move away from walls, vending machines and other things that may fall over. Protect yourhead from falling signboards and other objects.
 Move away from buildings to avoid broken glass from windows in shops and other buildings,
falling signboards/walls, and the like.
 On buses and trains, follow the instructions of the staff. If you are at a station or on a train
when an earthquake strikes, do not go near the railway tracks.
 In department stores, supermarkets, hotels, underground shopping malls and otherpublic/commercial areas with many people, do not rush toward emergency exits/stairs, andfollow the instructions of the staff.

Two times toextinguish naked
flames:- When you feeltremors- When the tremors
subsideWhile driving
 If you feel a tremor while driving, pull over to the left and stop. Get information from your car
radio and follow the directions given by the authorities.