Safety and Disaster Prevention: Earthquakes

Earthquake Measures

1. Earthquakes in Kyoto

In terms of large-scale earthquakes, it is expected that the many fault lines in Kyoto Prefecture, such as the Hanaore fault and Nara basin Toen fault, will cause inland earthquakes. There is also a high probability of large damage occurring from a so-called Tonankai-Nankai earthquake predicted to take place at sea.

2. Earthquake Measures

(1) House

First, move under a table or desk to protect your body. Quickly extinguish any fires. Protect children and the elderly. If the power supply is suspended due to the earthquake, switch off the breaker. When the power is restored, check the safety of your appliances before you switch the breaker back on.

(2) Department store

Guard your head with your bag or a similar object and stand near a wall or pillar. Stay away from glass and exhibition shelving. Evacuate according to the directions of those in charge.

(3) Train and bus

The train or bus may stop suddenly. Hold on to a strap or rail. Follow the instructions of the crew.

(4) Built-up areas

Don’t stop moving and guard your head with your bag or a similar object until you have reached a safe area. Don’t go near to vending machines or the walls of buildings.

(5) Theater or Hall

Crouch down between the seats. Guard your head with your bag. Evacuate according to the direction of the ushers.

(6) Driving

Slow down gradually and stop the car on the left-hand side of the road. If you exit your car, leave your key in the ignition and don’t lock the door.

3. Earthquake Measures in the Household

(1) Family Antidisaster Meeting

Earthquakes occur suddenly. If you prepare for the worst, you can have no regrets. You should hold a family meeting monthly, and discuss household antidisaster measures as well as responses and means to protect yourself in the event of an earthquake.

(2) Check list for family antidisaster meeting

Make sure of each of your roles.
Consider the layout of your furniture and means to prevent it falling.
Ascertain the dangerous areas inside and outside of your house.
Check the use-by date of the items for emergency situations and replace them if necessary.
Confirm refuge points in the event of a disaster, for example, school, park, etc.
Confirm points of contact in the event of a disaster, for example, distant relatives/’171 Dial’ of NTT.

(3) Dangers inside house

Prevention of falling objects

Put TV at a low level and don’t put too much weight on shelves/chests of drawers.
Put weighty objects for storage in lockers or bookshelves at a low level and light objects at a higher level.
Place furniture such as book shelves, cupboards, and chests of drawers in a position whereby they can be adhered to the wall, and prevent their fall by fixing them with metal fittings to a pole.

Fire prevention

Periodically check the operation of the automatic extinguisher in the heating system.
Regulate the area around the fire and use a curtain to help prevent it spreading.

Safety

Don’t put large furniture in bedrooms, children’s rooms or the rooms of the elderly.
To prevent the shattering of windows and cabinets place a layer of film over them.

4. Emergency Items

Category one items are to be taken away in an evacuation as a result of an earthquake. As a rough standard, an adult male’s share is 15 kg, and on adult female’s share is 10 kg. The items should be dispersed across both rucksacks in case the family members should be separated.

Category two items are for self-sufficiency until recovery from the earthquake is complete. The standard is the amount to last a family 3 days.

Ascertain other necessary items according to particular family needs.

Category one items

Valuables: cash, certificate of title, bankbook, driving license, health insurance card, etc
Emergency provisions: canned food, mineral water
Medical articles: adhesive tape, salve, bandage, digestion medicine, analgesic, etc
Clothes: underwear, outer layers, towels, etc.
Radio, spare batteries
Lights: flashlight, candle, match, lighter, spare battery, etc
Others: drugs, tampons, body warmer packs. If a baby is present: milk, nappies, etc

Category two items

Food: rice, canned goods, instant foods, spices, tableware, cooking utensils, can opener, bottle opener, etc.
Water: drinking water (3 liters per person per day, boiling required), water for living (bathing and washing)
Fuel: portable cooking stove, solid fuel, etc (enough gas stock is required for portable cooking stove)

5. Dangers outside house

Fix propane gas cylinders with chain
Repair damaged block or stone walls.
*Block walls with no foundations (over 30 cm) or reinforcing bar are dangerous.
Repair unstable antennas and tiles on roof.
Carefully arrange the placement of outdoor flowerpots so they are in a location with a minimal danger of falling.

6. Create a house resistant to earthquakes through reinforcements and repairs

How strong is your house against earthquakes? Carry out an analysis and strengthen it!

(1) Strong Foundations

Use foundations made with reinforced concrete fixed with bolts.

(2) Repair of corroded parts

Replace corroded parts and the parts eaten by termites.

(3) Attach metal fittings

Enhance joints such as foundations, poles, beams, etc, with metal fittings.

(4) Strong walls

Increase the strength of walls with plywood, increase the amount of walls, and arrange them so that they are well-balanced.

7. Local measures against earthquakes

When a large-scale earthquake occurs, municipal disaster prevention activities may not always run smoothly owing to bad conditions. Autonomous disaster prevention activities by local residents such as fire fighting, victim rescue, and evacuation are essential to prevent and reduce damage. Form an ’autonomous disaster prevention organization’ in your area to carry out disaster prevention training.

8. Ten points for your safety in the event of an earthquake

(1) First, protect yourself

Your life is the most important thing. When an earthquake occurs, protect yourself first.

(2) Put out any fires and do not panic

Put out any fires emanating from cooking and heating equipment with the assistance of other people

(3) Make sure of your emergency exits

In buildings made with reinforced concrete the building may become warped whilst the door is closed, and subsequently the door cannot be opened.

(4) When fires occur, put them out immediately

Put out fires at once in cooperation with your neighbors before they spread to the ceiling.

(5) Stay calm if you escape outside

If you escape outside, be cautious of falling tiles and glass and do not panic.

(6) Don’t move towards to narrow streets, walls, precipices and river banks.

Be aware of objects that may fall easily such as block walls, gateposts or automatic vending machines.

(7) Be cautious of landslides and tsunamis

If you experience an earthquake in mountainous or coastal areas, evacuate immediately.

(8) Evacuate on foot with minimum luggage

Evacuate to refuge on foot. Don’t use cars or motorbikes

(9) Provide emergency aid in cooperation with others

Help each other, including the aged people, the handicapped, the injured, etc.

(10) Look out for reliable information

Don’t get drawn in by groundless rumors, and obtain reliable information from radio and TV.