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The Disaster Prevention Manual for International Students
University of Yamanashi
This manual is made for international students living in dormitories and apartments toprotect themselves from disasters. Keep the following information in mind for
emergency responses.
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Earthquake
What is earthquake?

An earthquake is a phenomenon of a sudden shaking of the Earth’s surface that
often causes a lot of damage. There may be many damages from an earthquake,such as falling down of bookshelves, window glass broken, building collapse.

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In Japan we use “Shindo” to measure the force of an earthquake. The levels of Shindo
are as follows.
Levels of Shindo

２Shindo 3

Most people can feel shaking inside buildings.

Shindo 4

People may be woken up by the shaking.

Shindo 5-low

Many people become scared and need to grab onto something.

Shindo 5-high

Most people cannot walk or act without holding onto something.

Shindo 6-low

It becomes extremely difficult to stand.

Shindo 6-high

It is almost impossible to move without crawling.

Shindo 7

The force is so strong that you cannot move.

The Earthquake Early Warning
The Earthquake Early Warning system provides advance announcement of theestimated seismic intensities and expected arrival time of principal motion. Theseestimations are based on prompt analysis of the focus and magnitude of theearthquake using wave form data observed by seismographs near the epicenter.
The Earthquake Early Warning is aimed at mitigating earthquake-related
damage by allowing countermeasures such as promptly slowing down trains,
controlling elevators to avoid danger and enabling people to quickly protect
themselves in various environments such as factories, offices, houses and nearcliffs.

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Response to an earthquake

In March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake caused the following damages.
① Power outage② Mobile phone interruption③ Water outage④ Gas explosion⑤ Shortage of water, food, kerosene, gasoline, etc.
The Initial response to an earthquake★ Earthquake occurrence
・Protect yourself (Get under a desk or table to protect your head)・Turn off a kitchen stove・Get ready to evacuate (open the door/entrance)★1-2 minutes after the earthquake
・If a fire starts, try to put off the fire with a fire extinguisher.
★3 minutes after the earthquake
・Be careful with aftershock and leave the building if there is a risk of collapse.
★Actions after you secure yourself
・Keep water into buckets and bathtub before water outage
・Collecting information related to the earthquake.
★Evacuation ← Shindo 6-low
・Turn off the breaker and the gas valve.
・Get your emergency bag, if you have a time.
・ Reply to the emergency confirmation email, when you receive it from theUniversity.
★Return from the evacuation
・After confirming no gas leakage, turn on the breaker.
・Turn on the gas valve acceding to the gas manual.

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Recommended Emergency kit

MaskFlashlight

Headgear, hat, cap Gloves

Mobile phone

Portable radio

BatteryBlanket, Sleeping
bagLighter, MatchToilet paper

Plastic bag

Mobile phonecharger
Bankbook, Credit
card, Stamp
Disposable warmer

Foods

Water

Sanitary pad forwomenFirst aid kit,
Household medicine

Sneakers

Rainwear

Clothes

Towel

Money

Writing utensils

Other useful items:
・Emergency radio with built-in manual power generator.
・Head lamp, Gummed tape, Ground sheet

Ⅱ Fire1 Initial response to fireAccording to the fire situation, the response differs as below.
★Fire outbreak, report to others①If you see a fire, shout “Fire!” to alert others.
②If there is a fire alarm around, use it.
③To call 911 the Fire department.
★Initial fire extinguishing④ Use a fire extinguisher, water, and blanket, etc. within 3 minutes from theoutbreak.
★Evacuation⑤Escape from the building the flames reach the ceiling.
・Run away quickly empty-handed and do not return.
・Do not use an elevator.
・Lower your body while escaping in smoke.
・Cover your face with a wet towel or handkerchief.
・Close doors and windows to prevent the spread of fire.
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２Fire prevention(1) Do not leave the kitchen when you use gas stove.
(2) Do not smoke in bed and do not throw a cigarette away.
(3) Do not put anything burnable around the rooms and buildings.
(4) Use electric devices properly and avoid overloaded sockets.
(5) Keep the burnable away from a stove (curtain, laundry)

How to use a fire extinguisher① Pull out the stopper② Direct a hose to the fire

③ Squeeze the levers forshooting the fire◆ Important points
Get to windward of the fire. Shoot chemicals to the burning object from a low angle
with shaking the hose side to side.

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