1

Earthquake!
P. 16

Immediately After
P. 18

Evacuation
P. 40

Evacuation Life

P. 54

Rebuilding Your Life
P. 68

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Simulation of a
Major Earthquake
Suppose an earthquake of an unprecedented
scale directly hits Tokyo. What specific actions
should you take at that very moment? This chapter
provides simulations of possible dangers andappropriate actions you should take from themoment an earthquake occurs to your evacuation
and reconstruction of your life. Now imagine
yourself in these situations.

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The Moment an Earthquake
Strikes

Making the right decision is hard at the onset of
an earthquake
Among survivors of major earthquakes, there are some who say that the tremor fi rst felt
like a plane had crashed nearby, a factory had exploded, or a volcano had erupted. Insuch a sudden situation, you fi nd it diffi cult to move or think, and it’s hard to make anappropriate decision. This makes it important to imagine what you should do. Prepare inadvance by talking with your family, participating in fi re drills and disaster drills, andother ways.

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First, protect yourself
In a strong earthquake, you could be injured or killed if you are trapped under furnitureor hit in the head by falling objects such as glass from a broken window. While being
careful of what is happening around you, you should move quickly to a place where you
will be protected from falling objects or furniture and other heavy items toppling over orsliding into you. Give top priority to protecting yourself and your family. (Self-help)017

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Immediately after the
Earthquake

Wait until the tremor subsides

Secure an exit

Don’t rush out or you could be injured by falling objects, things toppling over or broken
glass. Even after the shaking subsides, be careful not to be injured by scattered glass,broken ceramic objects, and other hazardous objects.

After the shaking subsides, open the room’s window, door, and the front door to secure a
way out to allow you to evacuate at any time.

Check for fire hazards

Stay clear of glass or walls

If you are using an open flame, stay calm and turn it off after the shaking subsides. If a
fire breaks out, take initial measures to put it out.
Details → p. 188

If you are outdoors, you could be injured by falling roof tiles or broken glass, or betrapped under a collapsed concrete wall.

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Dangers at Home

Living room and kitchen
If you are in the living room, you must be careful about being trapped under tall furniturethat has toppled over, or injured by broken glass from windows or lighting fixtures. If you
feel a tremor, take cover in a place where you will be protected from falling objects or
furniture and other heavy items toppling over or sliding into you. You should also watch
out for things like large, heavy kitchen appliances such as refrigerators and microwave
ovens, as well as items flying out of shelves.

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Once the tremor subsides, begin moving, wearing footgear like thick-soled
slippers to protect your feet. Secure an exit by opening the door. If you were
cooking, first protect yourself, and then after the shaking stops, calmly turn off
the flame.

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BedroomBdProtect your head with items such as a pillow or bed quilt to avoid being directly hit
by broken window glass or falling ceiling lights, and move to a place where floor
lamps or dressing tables will not topple over on you. If you make it a habit to put yourglasses in an eyeglass case when you go to sleep, this can prevent them from breaking
and throwing you into a panic.

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After the tremor subsides, put on thick-soled slippers and open the door to secure an
exit. Have a flashlight ready for a possible power failure, so that you can move safely
even in the dark. Emergency lights that automatically turn on in the event of a blackout
are available at stores, so getting one for your bedroom might be a good idea.

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Second floor
The first floor of an old structure could
collapse and crush you, so don’t rush to
the first floor. If you are in a building that
does not meet the earthquake resistancestandards, decide whether you should
escape outside according to the situation.
Details → p. 106

ToiletYo u m i g h t g e t t r a p p e d i n s i d e , s oopen the door when you feel atremor. If possible, move to a safer
place, such as the hallway or front
entrance, so that you can quickly
evacuate.

Shards of glass and other dangerous items on the floor
If you step on shattered glass, broken pieces of ceramic or other materials on the floor,
you could be injured and become unable to walk. Put on thick-soled slippers and moveto a safer place.

Bathroom
The bathroom is a place where you caneasily get injured because you aren’t
wearing any clothing to protect you.
Cover your head with a washing basin orsomething to protect yourself from theshattered glass of the mirror or light bulb,
and quickly get out of the bathroom andmove to a safe place.

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If trapped
If you are trapped inside a room or unable to move, don’t keep on shouting as this
could exhaust you and endanger your life. Instead, make large noises by, for instance,
using something solid to hit the door or walls to let others realize that you are in the
room.

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Dangers Away from HomeAt the office
Copy machines and other office furnishings on casters that have not been locked can movearound the room in an unpredictable manner. You could be severely injured if you are hit byone. You could even be killed if you are hit in the head by objects such as shards of broken
glass. While being careful of falling cabinets and shattered glass, you need to move to a safe
place to protect yourself from falling objects or furniture and other heavy items toppling over orsliding into you.

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Once the shaking has subsided and you are ready to evacuate, be sure to use thestairs because elevators could shut down from aftershocks and power failures. Highrise buildings shake for a longer period of time, and the higher you are in a building,the more pronounced the shaking—so much so that you may not be able to remain
standing. Quickly find a safe place to take cover and wait for the shaking to stop.

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Business and shopping districts

Schools

While protecting yourself from falling objects and debris, and watching out forcollapsing buildings, move to a safe place such as a park. If you are unable to flee to an
open area, take refuge in a relatively new, reinforced concrete building that is seismic
resistant (see page 108). One of the scariest things that can happen in a crowd is theeruption of panic. Remain calm, especially in areas where a lot of people are gathered.

To protect yourself from flying shards of window glass and falling lighting
fixtures in the classroom, move away from windows, take cover under a desk,
hold on to the desk’s legs, and wait until the shaking subsides. If you’re in
the hall, quickly move away from windows, and on the stairs, grab hold of
the railing to avoid losing your balance and falling. When the shaking stops,
follow the instructions of the teachers and staff.

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Train stations

Inside the train

Protect yourself from falling objects and move to the nearest column so you don’t fall
off the platform. If the platform is too crowded to move around, crouch down and wait
for the shaking to subside. In subway stations, there is the danger of panic breaking
out with people rushing to get above ground. Stay on the platform and never go on to
the tracks. Follow the instructions of the station staff once the shaking has stopped.

Since trains will make an emergency stop when strong shaking is detected, you could
bump into someone or fall down. If you are seated, use your bag or something similar
to protect your head. If standing, protect yourself by crouching to the ground. In a
crowded train, firmly grab a handrail or strap, and keep your feet firmly planted on
the ground so you don’t fall over. Follow the instructions of the train crew once theshaking has ended.

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Expressways

Tunnels

To avoid colliding with other vehicles,
gradually reduce speed and bring the
car to a stop on the left side of theroad. There’s the possibility that theexpressway will be closed. Confirm thesituation over your car radio or othermeans.

As there is the danger of ceiling orwall collapse, if you are able to see thetunnel exit ahead, leave the tunnel at a
reduced speed. If you are in a very longtunnel, pull over to the left hand side andstop the car. Leave the keys in the carand evacuate from the tunnel using the
emergency exit.

In the car

Bridges and overpasses

Suddenly lowering your speed could cause a collision. Turn on your hazard lights andgradually slow down. Stop your car on the left side of the road, turn off the engine,
and wait for the shaking to stop. Move to a parking lot or open area if possible. Whenevacuating, leave your keys/smart keys in the car, and do not lock the car doors, sothat your car can be moved to let emergency vehicles pass. Leave a note with yourcontact information inside the car, and take any valuables and your car registration
along with you when you go.

Since old bridges could collapse, if
you were about to finish crossing thebridge, reduce your speed and complete
the crossing. Since every bridge andoverpass shakes in a different way,
gradually slow down, pull over to theleft side of the road, and stop the car.

Traffic restrictions on disaster
response routes
Disaster response routes are roads
designated for the smooth passage of
emergency vehicles directly following
an earthquake. Become familiar withtraffic restrictions that will take effectwhen a major earthquake strikes.
Details → p. 280

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Department stores, supermarkets, convenience stores

Underground shopping areas

At department stores and supermarkets, watch out for items scattered across the floor
and broken product displays, and move near a stairway landing or support column. In
a convenience store, use a shopping basket, bag, or other item to protect yourself fromfalling objects.

You could be injured if power failure causes the crowd to panic and stampede toward theemergency exit. Remain calm and protect yourself from falling objects. Wait near a column
or wall until the shaking subsides.

Theaters, halls, stadiums

Airports

In facilities where a great number of people gather such as theaters,
halls, and stadiums, do not rush toward the emergency exit or stairs, butlisten to the public address system and follow instructions given by thestaff.

Even in the event a major earthquake directly strikes Tokyo, airport terminals are notexpected to sustain serious damages such as building collapse. However, you should still
be prepared to protect yourself from falling objects such as glass and ceiling components.

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High-rise buildings

Mountainous areas

The higher the floor, the stronger the shaking will be. If you are a visitor in thebuilding, remain in a public area such as the elevator hall, crouch close to the ground,and listen for instructions over the public address system.

As there is the danger of being buried alive by a landslide in mountainous areas, you
should immediately move away from slopes and cliffs. Also be aware that events such as
aftershocks and rainfall increase the risk of sediment disasters.

Details → p. 240

Details → p. 152

Elevators

Islands and coastal areas

If you are in an elevator and feel an earthquake, press the button for every floor andget off on the first floor the elevator stops at. If you become trapped, use the intercom
button to call for assistance.

At the earliest, a large tsunami could reach the coastline within minutes. Callout to those around you and promptly move to higher ground. If there is nohigher ground in the area, evacuate to a location such as a tsunami evacuation
tower.

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Things Not to Do When an
Earthquake Occurs

Do not light a fire as there is the dangerof igniting natural gas, causing an
explosion.

Do not reset your circuit breaker torestore the flow of electricity as it could
start a fire.

Do not use the telephone for non-essential,
non-emergency calls directly following anearthquake as this could overload telephonelines.

Do not walk barefoot indoors as you
could be injured from broken glass andother debris.

Do not touch light switches as thereis the danger of sparking a fire or
explosion.

Do not use elevators as there is the danger ofgetting trapped inside.

Do not engage in rescue activities alone.
To reduce the risk of injury, work withseveral people when attempting to rescue
others.

Do not use a car to evacuate as it may
impede the passage of emergency
vehicles.

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Evacuation Flow ChartDO
NOW- Gloves

No danger

Return home
/ Stay at home

- Comfortable shoes with thick soles

Danger of firesubsides1

Evacuate to an
evacuation centerr(Elementary and juniorior
high schools, etc.))- Clothing that is easy to move in

Damages are
too great tolive at home

Danger of firesubsidesCheck to see if your house is damaged- Helmet or protective hood

No danger of fire. The
temporary evacuation
area is safe.

Remain at thetemporaryevacuation area

What to wear when evacuating

Danger of fire. The
temporary evacuation
area is in danger.

Rebuilding Your Life

*The following flow chart is an example of a two-stage evacuation. As the method of
evacuation will differ by municipality, please inquire at your local municipal office.

Evacuate to an
evacuation areaa(Large park/
public space)

Danger of fire. Instructions given
to evacuate.

Head toward the temporary evacuation
area (Elementary and junior highschools, neighborhood park)

Confirm the local situation (e.g. fires, evacuation orders)Danger of fire makes it impossible to go to the temporary evacuation area

Evacuation LifeNo damages

The right time to evacuate
Keep in mind that your decision on evacuation could be a matter of life ordeath. Don’t rely on others to make the decision on whether or not to evacuate,
but gather information from the radio, TV, and public authorities, and based on
information that you have confirmed with your own eyes and ears, decide how
to act using the above flow chart as reference.

04 0150625_1-en.indd 040-041

If your home is safe, try to stay at home. If your family members have been
separated, leave a memo at your home, use the disaster message services
provided by telephone companies, or other means of communication to set up
a meeting place.

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Decision to Evacuate
Use SNS
SNS such as Twitter and Facebook
are valuable sources of information.
However, during an emergency, false
rumors and information could also spreadthrough these sites. Don’t simply believe
such rumors. Make it a point to gather
correct information.

Confirm the safety ofyour family
When a disaster breaks out, people are
too preoccupied with protecting their own
lives, and could fail to realize that theirown hands and feet are bleeding or thatsomeone around them is hurt. When the
shaking stops, family members who aretogether should check among themselvesthat they are not hurt and that the house is
not in danger.

Confirm the situation
inside and outside thehomeGather correct information
After the shaking has stopped, you could be endangered if you act according to thewrong information. Before making a move, you need to gather proper information.
Use a battery-powered (or rechargeable) radio that will work even if there’s apower failure, TV, smartphone radio/TV, websites of the fire department and publicauthorities, and other reliable sources to gather correct information.
Details → p. 270

04 2150625_1-en.indd 042-043

After confirming the situation of the membersof your family who are with you, check theinside of the house. Confirm that all possible
sources of fire have been turned off and that
there is an evacuation route. While listening
to information over the radio and other media,
visually inspect the situation around you.

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Indiscreet actions are
dangerous
Rushing out of your house in a panic puts
you at risk of getting hurt by a falling
object. Stay calm and first confirm thesafety of your family and home. And
after doing so, confirm the situation
around you with your own eyes and ears,
such as if there are any dangerous objects
or buildings, or an outbreak of fire.

Confirm the safety ofneighbors
After confirming your family’s safety,
direct your attention to your neighbors.
Check to see if anyone has been enclosed,
entrapped, or hurt, and whether there isanyone who needs help in evacuating. In
times of emergency, it’s important to help
one another.

If you re away from home, stay where you are if it is safe

04 4150625_1-en.indd 044-045

Immediately after an earthquake, roads and the areas around stations become very
crowded, and there’s also the risk of being hurt or losing your life in secondary
disasters such as the outbreak of a large-scale fire or building collapse. If the safetyof your company or school has been confirmed, do not immediately leave for home,
but stay and wait and see how the situation progresses. Discuss beforehand with yourfamily about how to contact each other and what actions to take immediately after anearthquake.
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What to Do before Evacuating

Turn off the circuit breakers

Close the main gas valve

If one of the household items that havefallen over is an electrical appliance that
has its switch on, it could cause a fire
when power is restored.

If the gas pipe or gas appliances
are broken, a gas leak could cause
an explosion when gas is restored.

Turn off possible sources of fireIn the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, about 10 percent of deaths were
due to fire. This shows how important first response fire extinguishingefforts are. If you discover a fire, and it is still small, use a fire
extinguisher or water to put it out. But in conducting such activities,
remember that your safety comes first. If the situation seems dangerous,
such as with flames reaching the ceiling, stop trying to extinguish the fireand evacuate the area.
Details → p. 188

04 6150625_1-en.indd 046-047

Leave a memo

Using message boards and SNS

When evacuating your home, leave amemo with relevant information such as
your safety and that of your family andwhere you have evacuated to, and lockyour door when you leave.

Prepare multiple means for contact under
the assumption that phones will notwork. SNS will be useful, too.

Details → p. 128
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Important Points for Safe
Evacuation
Be careful about panicin crowds

Escape from smoke in afire

In crowded areas, actions such assuddenly running have the dangerof causing a panic and resulting in
accidents. In order to prevent mass
panic through the spread of false rumors
and information, take care to act inconsideration of those around you.

Smoke from a fire can be life threatening.
Try not to inhale the smoke whenescaping by covering your mouth andnose with something like a handkerchiefand crouching down as low as possible.
If you are unable to see ahead because of
the smoke, follow the wall to escape.

Move along the wall inunderground spaces
Underground shopping areas during a
power outage are one of the places at ahigh risk of mass panic. As underground
shopping areas have emergency exits
located every 60 meters, do not join
everyone in rushing to one emergency
exit, but find another one close to you by
walking along the wall.

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Before a tsunami
reaches the river
Concerns about tsunamis are not justlimited to areas near the ocean. Tsunamis
also move upstream in rivers. Evacuate
immediately in a direction at a right angle
from the river.

Evacuating from theapartment veranda

Know where the tsunami
evacuation sites are

Verandas and balconies have panels
separating them from the unit next door.
These can be broken through during an
emergency such as the outbreak of a fire,
to allow escape to the unit next door.
There are also evacuation hatches on thefloor equipped with ladders to escape tothe unit below.

If you are near the ocean at the timeof an earthquake, immediately moveto nearby higher ground or a tsunami
evacuation building. If there are none,
move to a higher building. At beacheswith lifeguards, follow their instructions
and evacuate.

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Protect yourself fromfalling objects

What to be careful ofwhen evacuating at night

In residential areas you could be hurt or
killed by falling objects such as roof tiles,
the outdoor units of air conditioners,
and planter boxes. In shopping andoffice districts, be cautious of fallingsignboards, neon signs, and shards ofglass.

Because of low visibility when evacuating
at night, there are the risks of stumblingor falling into roadside ditches. Be sure to
take particular cautions, such as using wide
roads. Use a flashlight when evacuating
at night during a power failure, and movecarefully while visually confirming thesituation.

Don t touch power lines
Electricity could be flowing throughbroken or sagging power lines, posing thedanger of electrocution. Do not go nearsuch lines and never touch one. The same
follows if trees or signs are touching thepower line.

Buildings with cracks
are dangerous
You could be hurt or killed by sectionsof the outer wall or tiles falling frombuildings with cracks. If the pillars or
earthquake-resistant walls, which form
the basic structure of the building, arecracked, the building could collapse. Do
not go near such buildings.

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What to be careful ofwhen evacuating during
the winter
Evacuation during the cold winter season
could affect your health. It is important totake sufficient measures against the cold
to maintain your health. The use of spaceheaters in the wintertime also has thedanger of causing fires. Evacuate while
being careful of fires.

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Helping Each Other
Don t hesitate torequest cooperation
If a person who has collapsed doesn’t
respond to you, request cooperation fromthose around you by calling for help in aloud voice. If there is an AED (automatedexternal defibrillator) nearby, ask forsomeone to bring it.
Details → p. 176

Tips to helping each otherIf you discover someone trapped undera pillar or beam, ask for the cooperationof others around you to help rescue him.
Confirm whether he is still conscious,and if so, it’s important to encourage
him. Using tools like a car jack could be
useful for rescue efforts.

Necessity of first-aid
Helping each otherIn the event of a major disaster such as an earthquake directly hitting the capital, thefull efforts of the residents are important to overcome the situation. Don’t just think
about yourself or your family, but cooperate with those around you and help as many
people as possible. This concept of helping each other (mutual help) will help mitigate
the damage of the earthquake.

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In a large disaster, many people getinjured, but it could be imagined thatwith difficulties in passing through roads,
the arrival of ambulances will be delayed
and may not be in time to provide
medical assistance. Learn how to treat
minor injuries.
Details → pp. 178-187

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Staying at Home
Alternatives to gas,
electricity and water
It will be reassuring to have alternatives
to lifelines prepared. Have a portable gas
cooking stove to take the place of gas, andbattery-operated headlamps to substitutefor lights. For water, always have a lot ofwater, such as bottled water, and confirm
where the nearby water supply point islocated.

Preparations for foodand daily essentials
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has
designated November 19 as “StockpilingDay.” If you always maintain extra
supplies of food and daily essentials
and consume this “daily stockpile” inyour everyday lives, it would be easy tocontinue having an emergency stockpileof goods at home.
Details → pp. 85-87

Use of the sewer
Recommending that you stay at home
If you are able to continue living at home, it is recommended that you do not evacuate
to a shelter but stay at home. Life at an evacuation center negatively affects thehealth of some people due to reasons such as changes to their environment. Before an
earthquake strikes, it would be important to retrofit your home against earthquakes,
always keep a stock of necessary goods such as water and food, and be prepared tostay at home to all possible extent.

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Confirm if there is any sewer backflow and
if your home’s sewage facilities are broken
or not. If the sewer system cannot be used
with, for instance, sewage overflowing
into the streets, use the portable emergency
toilet in your stockpile or toilets preparedby the authorities.

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Evacuation Center
Process of opening an evacuation center (example)
The following is an example of the process taken to open an evacuation center.
Normally, the facility is unlocked by the facility’s manager and preparations are
begun for its opening. However, at the onset of a disaster, the manager could be late inarriving because he himself was caught up in the disaster. It could thus be possible thatthe evacuees themselves have to prepare for the opening of the shelter.

1 Preparation to receive evacuees
The lock is opened, and preparations to receive evacuees
begin. Confirmation of safety within and around the facility
is made, such as confirming firefighting facilities andwhether a means of communication can be secured.

2 Preparing the layout
Discussions are held on what to install where, and matterssuch as the layout of the living space. An environment
where people can live is prepared.

3 Establishing a reception desk

What is an evacuation center?
An evacuation center is a place that temporarily takes in and protects people who cannot
continue to live in their homes. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has about 3,000
evacuation centers comprising schools, community centers and other public facilities, andabout 1,200 secondary evacuation centers (welfare evacuation centers) that accept people
who would have difficulty living in a regular emergency shelter and need special care.

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Evacuees are guided from the temporary evacuation area tothe evacuation center, and registration begins. A name list
is prepared to grasp the situation of the local victims of thedisaster, including the evacuees and those needing care.

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Guide to Evacuation Life
After arriving at the evacuation center (example)
The following is an example of what evacuees do after arriving at the evacuation
center. Please note that the process and rules differ from shelter to shelter. It is
important to uphold the rules in evacuation center operation and life. For evacuees tohelp each other and cooperate is indispensable.

1 Giving your contact information
After arriving at the evacuation center, give your address,
name, and contact information, and you will be groupedwith neighbors or by neighborhood association. Evacuees
who are stranded commuters or others having difficulty
returning home give this information.

2 Confirming the safety of family members,
etc.
Confirm the safety of family members and neighbors. So
that those with hearing impairments can also understandthe information, write out the information on cardboard,etc.

3 Role sharing

Rules and manners at the evacuation center
Evacuees should uphold the rules of life at an evacuation center and help each otherby sharing duties to the extent possible. Entering or scrutinizing the living space ofa fellow evacuee, speaking in a loud voice, and smoking in non-designated areas goagainst manners. Consideration toward those who need care is also necessary at anevacuation center.

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Carry out the duties allotted to you such as helping out at theregistration desk or cooking. There are many things that need
to be done by cooperating with each other.

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Earthquake!

Immediately After

Evacuation

Evacuation Life

Rebuilding Your Life

1

The Dos and Don'ts at an
Evacuation Center

Maintain privacy

Securing water

Each residential space is the same as a house. Be sure to uphold each other’s privacy
by being especially considerate toward households with women, infants, and smallchildren, and those who need special care.
Details → p. 212

When tap water is unavailable, follow the instructions of the facility’s manager andsecure drinking water and water for domestic use. If you are using well water as
drinking water, always filter and then boil it.
Details → p. 199

Use of the toilet

Crime prevention

A large number of people use the facility’s toilets, and they may become clogged withtoilet paper. Use the toilets in the manner instructed by the facility.

An evacuation center does not provide a perfect residential environment. Keep in mind thatyou have to protect yourself, and if you see someone acting suspiciously, contact the police
or facility staff.

Details → p. 200

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Earthquake!

Immediately After

Evacuation

Evacuation Life

Rebuilding Your Life

1

Take care of your health

Smoking rules

The drastic change of environment could negatively affect your health. Be sure to takemeasures to care for your health. Drink enough water during the summer, and keep
warm during the winter.
Details → pp. 192-195, p. 197

Be sure to follow the center’s rules on smoking so that you don’t bother thosearound you, and to prevent passive smoking and the outbreak of fires.

Maintain sanitationPets

No shoes should be worn inside the facility. Divide the space into passageways and places
where the futon mats are laid out. Decide on a place to put rubbish, and be sure to tightly
close the garbage bags to prevent the outbreak of flies and cockroaches.

If you own a pet, you should follow the center’s rules and be responsible in looking
after your pet.

Details → pp. 204-205

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Earthquake!

Immediately After

Evacuation

Evacuation Life

Rebuilding Your Life

1

Distribution of relief

Prevention of
infectious diseases

Don’t be impatient and calmly wait foryour turn to come. Depending on thesituation, a single person’s share of foodand relief may have to be shared withother people. Consideration toward those
who need special care and cannot line up
is also important.

Common colds, influenza, and othercontagious diseases can easily break out.
It is recommended that you wash yourhands and gargle frequently. When nowater is coming out of the taps, it would
be reassuring if you could have ethanol
ready as a disinfectant.

Sanitation in cooking
meals
Wash your hands carefully with soap
before cooking or arranging food,touching ingredients, and after using thetoilet. Cooking utensils should also be
washed and disinfected after each use.
Details → pp. 208-211

Prevention of foodpoisoning064

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Food poisoning can occur at any
time of the year. The best method
to prevent this is to wash yourhands. You should also be careful
about the dishes you use. Wheny o u a r e u n a b l e t o u s e w a t e r, o n egood method would be to serve
food on disposable containers thathave plastic wrap spread on them.
Details → pp. 223-224

Sleep and turning off thelightsThere are many things about living
in an evacuation center that you are
not used to, and because of this,people often do not sleep well andconsequently become ill. There arethose who cannot sleep when thelights are on, and those who cannots l e e p w h e n i t ’s d a r k . O n e o p t i o nwould be to turn the lights off every
other day.
Details → p. 206

Prevention of heat stroke
Beware of heat stroke at an evacuation
center in the summer (especially children
and senior citizens). Frequently replenish
the water and salt lost by your body even
if you don’t feel thirsty, wear permeable
clothing that is absorbent and quickdrying, and avoid the heat.
Details → p. 197

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Earthquake!

Immediately After

Evacuation

Evacuation Life

Rebuilding Your Life

1

Consideration toward People
Who Need Special Care
People who need special care include expectant mothers, children, the elderly, foreign
nationals, and those with disabilities. Try to be considerate and supportive of suchpeople, including those who are wearing symbol marks such as Tokyo’s “Help Mark,”
which indicate that they have a disability that is not easily discernible.

Women and expectant
mothers
Women have concerns such as where
they can change their clothes, andmothers with infants are concerned
about breastfeeding their child. Women
who are pregnant or have just given
birth also need consideration for theirhealth and privacy.
Details → pp. 202-203
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ChildrenChildChildren rid themselves of stress byplaying. Secure a place and time where
they can express their feelings andbecome refreshed.

Details → pp. 220-221

SeniorsS
i

Foreignnationalsiil

At times, senior citizens may be
inconvenienced but will not comeout and say it. Try to speak to themfrequently in a cheery manner to keepthem from feeling alone or afraid.

Because of differences in customs andculture, and difficulty in understanding
the language, non-Japanese people
may be feeling afraid. It’s important toprovide them with proper information
through an interpreter or someone
capable of speaking a foreign language.
Details → pp. 288-291

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Earthquake!

Immediately After

Evacuation

Evacuation Life

Rebuilding Your Life

1

Returning to Daily Life
Moving into emergency
temporary housing
If you have lost your home, you canmove into emergency temporary housing(for two years in principle; could possibly
be extended). Move from the evacuation
center to emergency temporary
housing, and start on the road to living
independently as soon as possible.
Details → p. 259

Moving to the homeof a relative or
acquaintanceAccepting deathWith 19,225 fatalities in the Great East Japan Earthquake (as of March 1, 2015, Fireand Disaster Management Agency) and 6,434 fatalities in the Great Hanshin-Awaji
Earthquake (as of May 19, 2006, FDMA), many people had to accept the death of an
acquaintance or loved one. In the event of an earthquake directly hitting Tokyo, it isestimated that about 11,000 people will be killed and 210,000 injured.

Another option would be for you tomove into the home of a relative or
acquaintance. It would be important tolighten the burden on them by stating thatyou will only be there until you find a
new home.

Details → p. 250

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Earthquake!

Immediately After

Evacuation

Evacuation Life

Rebuilding Your Life

1

Starting to Rebuild Your Life

Reopening business
The central government and theTokyo Metropolitan Government havevarious programs to support SMEs andagriculture, forestry, and fishery operators
in reopening their business. Apply to yourmunicipality to receive such support.
Details → p. 261

Working again
If you have lost your job due to thedisaster, you can look for work at
Hello Work (Japanese government’s
employment service center) or receive
support such as skills training.
Details → p. 260

Were you able to imagine the possible
dangers and actions you should take fromthe onset of an earthquake to rebuilding
your life? It is important that you picture
this happening to you. What dangers lurk
in your home... in your office... at school?
Imagining these as specifically as possible
is your first step to disaster preparedness.
Let's start now.

Returning to school
If you have financial problems due to thedisaster, or if your school was damaged,
you can receive an emergency scholarshipto pay for expenses related to going toschool or transferring schools.
Details → p. 260

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co l u m n

Learning from the Experience of Survivors of

The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake
and the Great East Japan Earthquake
Interview1

No victims through an accurate decision to evacuate
Toshiko Saito (resident of Ishinomaki City / 69 years old at the time ofthe disaster)At the time of the earthquake, I was on the board of our community association.
Immediately after the earthquake, I followed our earthquake response manual andchecked my neighborhood to see if there was anyone who had not managed to escape.
The ground floor of my house had been inundated with the tsunami, but the second
floor was usable, so I stayed at home and went to help out at the evacuation center
during the daytime.
Our community association was made up of about 1,200 households and 3,000
residents, and there were 30 board members. We not only participated in the city’sannual disaster drill, but also held our own drill, with neighbors actively socializing
with each other. Thanks to this, many of the residents knew what to do at the onset of
an earthquake and were able to accurately judge if it was necessary to evacuate, andalthough there were some people who died at their place of work, no one died at home
due to the earthquake and tsunami.
Through this experience, I became acutely aware of the fact that not only learning
about disaster preparedness, but maintaining communication with your neighbors fromnormal times are very important to protect lives and survive.

Fishing boat, the Kyotoku Maru No. 18, left stranded in the city of Kesennuma,
Miyagi Prefecture, at the time of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Although there
were calls to keep it as a symbol of the disaster, it was dismantled in October 2013.
©Nihon Bousai Kankyou/Kazuhiro Yamada

07 2150625_1-en.indd 072-073

Interview

2

Don t give up. Miracles happen.
Fukuhiro Mizuguchi (resident of Kobe City / 60 years old at the time ofthe disaster)1

I was sleeping soundly in my bedroom on the first floor, when a large shaking woke
me up. The instant I realized that this was not the usual earthquake, I was trapped
under my house that had collapsed and a wardrobe that had toppled over. My wife was
not at home at that time and was safe, but I was buried alive. My head was not hit,and since there was a narrow space between me and the ceiling panel, I was able tobreathe, but I was not able to move at all.
After a while, I had a loss of sensation in the lower half of my body, my whole body
felt like it was burning, my head hurt so much it felt like it was about to crack, myeyeballs were about to pop out, and I was resigned to the fact that I was going to die
there. But then when I thought about my family, relatives, my aging parents who were
not living with me, and my workplace, I felt that I couldn’t just die like this, and even
if I am going to die, I’m not going to give up until I do. I gathered all the energy I still
had left and poked my finger out of the ceiling panel, and this finger hit someone’s
hand. Just a few minutes more and I would have lost consciousness and died. I think
this spirit of never giving up brought about this miracle.
Interview

3

Thorough talks to resolve trouble
Masanori Murakawa (resident of Kobe City / 50 years old at the timeof the disaster)From municipal housing that had tilted 30 degrees and was about to collapse, I
evacuated to the gymnasium of a junior high school along with my neighbors.
The most distressing things about evacuation life were troubles arising fromgossip and pets.
Because we were all under stress due to concerns about our future lives,
dissatisfaction with the current situation, and other matters, the atmosphere at
the center often became quite awkward, with suspicion begetting idle fears.
For instance, there was a lot of trouble when a rumor spread that the city had
granted a subsidy somewhere. Discussions were held every night to haveeveryone wait until the city informs us of this, rather than be manipulated by
the rumors. It took one to two months for everyone to accept this.
Another problem was dogs. For the owner, a pet is a member of the family, but
we were opposed to having them inside because there were people who do not
like dogs, and also people who were ill. Thorough discussions were held on
this matter as well, and in the end it was agreed to have the owners keep thedogs on a chain outside the center. Through this experience, I became aware of
the fact that thorough communication is essential to overcoming problems.

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Interview

4Children in high spirits lift the spirits of adults as wellSetsuko Higashida (resident of Kobe City / 58 years old at the time ofthe disaster)

My home was not damaged so I stayed at home and went to the evacuation centerto give support. There were about 20 to 30 children of kindergarten and elementary
school age. At first they were quiet and stayed close to their parents, but later they
started to run around and were scolded by the adults for being too noisy.
On the third day after the earthquake, teachers came to confirm that the children weresafe, and it was decided to let them play at the school. After playing at the school foran hour or so, the children came back in good spirits. And after a while, the 5th and6th graders started to help by, for instance, taking down the names of visitors anddistributing boxed lunches. Children taking the initiative to find roles that they canserve and becoming revitalized by working for the sake of others, revitalized the adults
as well.
But mental care for the children is also essential. If an adult who is close to themstays nearby and shows understanding toward what the children are saying, they willcalm down. In order for children to survive the earthquake, it would be important forparents and children to promise to “protect themselves by themselves.”

Interview

5

6

Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake (her son was rescued). © Setsuko
Higashida

07 4150625_1-en.indd 074-075

Yoko Yamada (resident of Ishinomaki City / 45 years old at the time ofthe disaster)1

On the day after the earthquake, I went from the evacuation center to the area near
my house. The tsunami had swept away the houses from where my home stood to theseaside, and there were none left. I wasn’t able to see my house over the mountain of
rubble, but I think it was also swept away. I realized that I wouldn’t be able to move
forward unless I accept this. That was the start of my life at the evacuation center.
At first, there was hardly any support, and I was resigned to the fact that I would haveto do whatever I was able to do by myself. A local nurse came to the evacuation centeras a volunteer. When I discussed the situation of my brother who was on dialysis, I
was asked to help the nurse with people among the 2,000 some evacuees, who had
become ill or had disabilities, and with first-aid for people living near the evacuation
center who fell ill.
Through my participation in this harsh environment where people’s lives are at stake,I learned that I should say “no,” when I myself was unable at that moment to respondor did not know the answer to questions from the evacuees. In an emergency, to give
people expectations to no avail will just invite confusion. I realized that when an
earthquake strikes, it would be difficult to protect yourself and survive unless you do
whatever you can do by yourself.

InterviewMs. Higashida’s son’s home, which collapsed during the GreatYou are responsible for protecting your life

The experience fundamentally changed in my life
Hideki Taga (resident of Tokyo / 27 years old at the time of thedisaster)Right after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, the phones weren’t working,and with no information coming in, I was forced to decide what to do byrelying on the words of other survivors. Hearing the voices of people trapped
under buildings calling for help and seeing people who were crushed as I
moved toward safety, I felt that life as I knew it was falling apart.
Patients that I had seen as a graduate student in clinical psychology who had
said they wanted to do die, survived, and in the earthquake, people who wanted
to live, had died. This experience made me want to go into work that keeps
people alive and supports their lives. Following this, I entered a nursing schooland became a nurse. The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake fundamentallychanged my life.

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Interview

7

8

Harsh life at the evacuation center spent with my young children

150625_1-en.indd 076-077

Q1

What should be the first thing you do when you feel the tremors of anearthquake?
Answer → p. 17

Q2

What should you do if you are using something with a flame when theearthquake strikes?
Answer → p. 18

Q3

What should you do if you are trapped in your room and/or cannot move due to theearthquake?
Answer → p. 25

Q4Q5

Aoi Kimura (resident of Higashimatsushima City / 26 years old at thetime of the disaster)I spent one week at the evacuation center with my sons, ages 5 and 6, and my
6-month-old daughter, who was just about to start eating baby food. The junior highschool gymnasium that we evacuated to was not a designated evacuation center andso it didn’t have any stockpiles. We had to try to stay warm with just the clothes wewere wearing. And since my daughter was about to switch to baby food, I was notproducing much milk, and so in place of baby food, I had to give her the food rations
that were distributed starting the next day. Life at the evacuation center was stressful
for the boys. People would look obviously annoyed when my daughter cried just alittle or if my sons shouted and ran around, so I spent much of my time apologizing.
There were people who helped us, but my sons were getting frustrated, and I was
getting mentally exhausted. I was finally able to get rid of this stress when we returned
to our house although the power and water supply lines had not yet been restored.
I had never even considered carrying around emergency goods with me when goingout with my children. It would have made life at the evacuation center so much easierif I had a bib for the baby, wet wipes to use as baby wipes or to clean their hands, a
portable flashlight, and other such items. I now carry these things around with me at
all times, and live with a heightened awareness of disaster preparedness.

07 6

1

Maiko Fujita (resident of Tokyo / 7 years old at the time of the disaster)I was 7 years old at the time of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. I remember thatit took quite a long time for me to understand that an earthquake had struck. I wasstartled by the large shaking, and living at home after that was also quite difficult.
Somehow, it just didn’t seem real. But then I saw a district that was hit especiallybadly. The sight of the expanse of burnt ruins from the train window is something that
I will probably vividly remember forever. This was one month after the earthquake
struck, but I was very shocked by how bad the situation was. I think it was then that I
finally realized that my town had been destroyed.
Since then, I didn’t want to talk about that time or look at pictures, and it took quite along time for me to accept what had happened to me. Children have to become adults
while holding such experiences. I think it is important to not only teach them about
how formidable an earthquake is, but to have them become capable of overcoming thedisaster.

Interview

Disaster Preparedness Quiz

Mental care for children

Q6
Q7
Q8
Q9

What should you do if an earthquake strikes when you are at school?
Answer → p. 29

What shouldn’t you do right after the tremors subside?
Answer → p. 38

What should you do before evacuating?
Answer → p. 46

What should you be cautious of when evacuating?
Answer → p. 48

When you see a fire, how should you escape and in what direction?
Answer → p. 49

What word do we use to mean helping each other to overcome theearthquake?
Answer → p. 52

Q10

Who are “people who need special care”?
Answer → p. 66

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10 Key Points to Observe
When an Earthquake Strikes
During the earthquake

1

Earthquake! First, protect yourself

1

After the Earthquake
Details →pp. 17, 20-23

6

When you feel a tremor or receive an earthquake early warning, first, protect
yourself.
Hide under a sturdy table or a place where you will be protected from falling
objects or furniture and other heavy items toppling over or sliding into you, andwait for the shaking to subside.
Points to heed on high floors(from about the 10th floor and up) Details → p. 36
On high floors, the swaying could last for several minutes.
In addition to causing objects to fall or furniture, etc., to topple over, thelarge, slow swaying could cause them to slide a large distance.

Fire and tsunami: safe evacuation

Details → pp. 40, 48-51

If your area is in danger of a large-scale fire, and you feel endangered, evacuate
to a temporary evacuation area or evacuation area.
If you are near the ocean and feel a large tremor or if a tsunami alert has been
issued, quickly evacuate to a safe place such as high ground.

7
8

Correct information and proper actions

Details → p. 42

Gather correct information from the radio, TV, fire department, and thegovernment.
Confirm the safety of your family and neighbors

Details → p. 44

After confirming the safety of your family, check if your neighbors are safe.

Immediately after the earthquake

2

Stay calm and check possible sources of fire. Take first
response fire extinguishing measures if necessary Details → p. 18
If you are using an open flame, stay calm and turn it off after the shaking
subsides.
If a fire breaks out, act calmly and put it out.

3

Hasty actions could cause injuries

4Open the window or door, and secure an exit

Details → p. 18

9Cooperate with each other for rescue and relief

Details → p. 53

Neighbors should cooperate in rescuing and providing relief to people
who have been trapped under collapsed houses or furniture.

10 Before evacuating, check your electricity and gas Details → p. 47
If you need to evacuate, turn off the circuit breakers and close the main gas valve
before evacuating.

Be careful of fallen objects, furniture, etc., that has toppled over, and broken
glass inside the room.
Don’t rush out or you could be injured by falling tiles, broken window glass, andsignboards.
Details → p. 19

After the shaking has subsided, secure an exit for evacuation.

5

Stay clear of gates or walls

Details → p. 19

If you feel the tremor while outside, stay clear of concrete block walls and otherthings that could collapse.

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