The X-Pat Files -  Special Bulletin

 (Brought to you by H&R Consultants)

At 9:46 this morning a huge earthquake hit the Noto Peninsula near Kanazawa. In a strange coincidence, I had just completed the following article about earthquake preparation when the earthquake hit.  I know some of you in Nagoya will have felt this earthquake and if you have seen the images on TV, probably earthquake preparation is now utmost in your mind.  Therefore, I am sending this article out earlier than the rest of the X-Pat Files as a special bulliten.  Some of the links contained within this bulliten will be useful to send to your relatives at home, who may see the Noto Peninsula earthquake on the news and worry about your safety.  Details are still unfolding about this earthquake, but it seems to be a major one, level 6+ in some areas on the JMA Seismic Intensity Scale.  If your relatives are prone to worry - contact them now.  It is hard for people overseas to know about Japanese geography and they have no way of knowing for sure if you are safe unless you let them know.

Here's the article I wrote this morning.  No need to panic, but please do stay safe.


Earthquake Preparation



There's no point in being too worried about an earthquake that may or may not hit while you are living in Japan, but there's even less point in not being prepared for the eventuality.  Since a major earthquake has not occurred in this area since the Ansei Tokai Earthquake in 1854, a major earthquake is expected to strike in the near future. This is called the Tokai Earthquake.

While it is not possible to provide warnings for all earthquakes, there is a system of three types of information that are released to the public to foresee the Tokai Earthquake:

1. Tokai Earthquake Observation Information or "Tokai Earthquake Report" (Tokai Jishin Kansoku Jouhou)

This is just a preliminary stage and means that the various organizations are gathering more data on the likelihood of an earthquake.  Don't change the way you are living, except to pay attention to TV and radio.  By the way, if you are ever concerned about an earthquake it is best to be able to see NHK in your home.  While the other Japanese commercial stations also recieve the information, the NHK always has the best and latest information as the official channel in Japan.

2. Tokai Earthquake Warning Information or "Tokai Earthquake Advisory" (Tokai Jishin Chuui Jouhou)

This information is dispersed when there is a greater possibility of an earthquake occurring.  Children must be accompanied home from school by a responsible adult, and facilities will start preparing for the eventuality of an earthquake.  Check your emergency supplies and confirm your evacuation routes.

3. Tokai Earthquake Alert Order or "Tokai Earthquake Warning" (Tokai Jishin Yochi Jouhou)

This announcement is issued if it appears that the Tokai Earthquake will strike in the near future.  Earthquake Disaster Warning Headquarters will be established and Emergency Message service 171 will be activated.  Change into comfortable clothing and close the gas main and valves on propane gas cylinders.  Those who live in areas where there is a danger of tidal waves or landslides should quickly contact neighbours and evacuate to a safe location.

It is also possible to check on earthquakes that have already happened, on the Japan Meterological Agency page which contains maps of affected areas and level of maximum seismic intensity, which is a practical guide to how badly an earthquake is experienced in different areas.  Look here for a guide to the JMA Seismic Intensity system.

It is important as a family to discuss what you will do in the event of a large earthquake. 

* Where is the safest place at home?
* Where are the emergency supplies at home?
* Do you have fire extinguishers in your home and where are they?
* Where is the nearest evacuation shelter and evacuation route?
* What are the responsibilities of each family member when evacuating?
* Decide how to contact family members, and about where to meet for both a daytime and nighttime earthquake scenario.
* Put personal effects and first aid kit in a place where they are easily accessable
* As a family, learn how to use the NTT disaster emergency dial 171.
* Look into disaster information options from your mobile phone provider such as this one from Softbank, this one from au, or this one from docomo.  Remember that in the event of a disaster different phones will work in different areas depending on which transmitters have been damaged.

Also as a family, prepare the following items for emergency evacuation:

*  By your bed: shoes (in case of broken glass), flashlight, whistle, glasses, medication
*  Emergency survival bag (put in an easily accessable place known to all family members) : valuables such as cash including change, passports, foreign registration cards, credit cards, bank passbook, drivers licence.  *  Radio, emergency food rations, bottled water, mobile phone.
*  Clothes to be used in an emergency, including gloves and small towels.
*  First aid kit including medicine, bandaids, tissue paper, small scissors, tape etc.
*  The emergency bag must be as light as possible for ease of carrying.

In another place in the house known to all family members, stockpile the following items:

* Emergency food and bottled water for three full days
* Portable cooking stove and fuel (careful to check use-by dates and safe storage)
* rope
* disposable chopsticks
* blankets
* strong masking tape
* paper tableware and thick foil cooking plates (available from camping stores)
* Families who camp - keep your camping goods updated and in good order, in an easily accessable place.  Taking up camping as a family hobby is one of the best earthquake preparations you can do!

Again as a family, think about your responses as a family in the time of disaster:

* Learn about the location of evacuation shelters in your area.
* Learn about the provision of water in the case of an emergency.
* Read up on advice from the fire department.
* Find good guides to earthquake preparation on the internet - even if they are not from this exact area much of the information contained is useful.  Use the guides like a checklist, be prepared.
* Read up on earthquake warning systems. 

Earthquake-proof your home, paying special attention to items that could cause injury:

* Special items to help stabilize furniture are sold in home centers.  These are called Jishin Taisaku Goods.  Find the jishin taisaku area in your local shop, and see what small measures you can take to stop your furniture from falling over, or glass from breaking.
* Glass should be reinforced in some way - some windows are already earthquake proof such as pebbled glass with wire criss-crossed through it to prevent splintering.  Clear glass however can have plastic film applied to it to stop the glass from splintering as it breaks.
* Cupboards that contain plates and glasses should, if possible, have sliding doors and not opening doors.  If they do have opening doors, one easy thing to do is to apply child locks so that doors do not open easily by shaking.
* Get into the habit of turning your gas off at the mains.  In Japan this is a relatively easy thing to do in the kitchen - you just need to make the habit.
* Displaying beautiful items on open shelves, use some kind of double-sided tape to prevent them from falling over, or worse yet, flying off the shelf and injuring someone.  You can buy this tape from the home center - experiment with different types to find the best kind for your purpose.
* Beds should not be under windows or near mirrors.  Think about potential injury and escape routes when placing a bed in a room.
* Do not put tall furniture on soft flooring like carpet.
* Put light objects on the top and heavy objects on the bottom.
* Don't put heavy furniture near doorways - it could block your escape if it fell.
* This guidebook from Mie Prefecture gives good advice about earthquake proofing your home and surviving an earthquake, with real experiences from earthquake survivors.