Two years (and 9,577 noticeable aftershocks–as of yesterday) have passed since the 3/11 triple disasters. In the interest of ensuring the health and safety of our AGU community, I am reposting some helpful information from the “Surviving in Japan” blog. It never hurts to be as prepared as we possibly can.
1. If possible, rent an apartment or house built after 1981 when the stricter building codes were established. The newer the better as a few amendments were made to the code in 2000 after analysis of the damage caused by the 1995 Kobe earthquake.
2. Know where your designated earthquake shelter is located. This may be important if your home becomes unlivable or you need to access supplies, such as food or drinking water. Ask at your local ward office for copies of bilingual evacuation maps and shelter locations. If you have any problems finding this information, feel free to contact WaNavi Japan for further assistance.
3. Choose a meeting place to reunite with your family and practice your home evacuation drill.
4. Walk your local neighborhood and locate public toilets and telephones.
5. Register for information alerts from your ward office and your country’s embassy.
6. If you have children attending school or child-care in Japan, know the school’s/care center’s emergency plan and how to make contact with your child’s teacher or caregiver.
7. Have multiple ways to contact your friends and family including home phone numbers (not just mobile/cell numbers). Connect on Facebook, Twitter or other online networks. On 3/11, before voice phone services were re-established, people were able to check in with each other on Facebook. Gaining reassurance about the safety of loved ones after a disaster is vital. Practice using the 171 system (available on the 1st and 15th of every month).
8. Stock up on supplies of essential food, medicine, drinking water and waste management tools. If water supply is affected then you might need to store lots of poop until services are re-established! See these resources page for a helpful checklist.
9. Pack an evacuation bag including cash, passports, essential medication, food, water and spare clothes for each member of your family. Ensure that you regularly change the clothes for the changing seasons and as the children grow.
