Earthquakes and Natural Disasters

Earthquakes

Japan is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone nations. In January 1995, the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake (7.3 magnitude) in Kobe claimed approximately 6,500 lives and destroyed over 100,000 residential buildings. Smaller earthquakes also occur frequently. Please prepare now to avoid panic if an earthquake occurs.

Preparation for Earthquakes

Have fire extinguisher.
If using propane gas, secure the gas cylinder tightly.
Purchase and use special hardware to prevent furniture from falling.
Prepare and check your supplies of food and water at home, as well as first aid supplies, flashlights, etc.
Prepare an emergency backpack.
Plan in advance how to contact your family, and agree on a meeting place if an earthquake occurs. Know the evacuation sites near your home.

When an Earthquake Occurs

If you are indoors, take shelter immediately under a table. Open the door so you can escape.
If you are outdoors, avoid narrow streets, fences, cliffs, elevated highways, and rivers.
In a car, do not panic. Pull the car to the left side of the road or a vacant spot, and turn off the engine.
If you need to leave your car to evacuate, leave the engine key in the ignition switch and leave the doors unlocked.

Evacuation Sites

First, evacuate to a large, safe location such as the nearest school, park, or empty lot. If you cannot go home, take refuge in an elementary or junior high school. There are 452 refuge locations in the city, which have been designated in advance as “Local Disaster Preparedness Centers”. (http://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/shobo/kikikanri/shelter/index-e.html (Japanese, English)) If you in danger due to a large spreading fire, evacuate to one of the 121 designated “Regional Evacuation Sites” in the city. These include large parks and apartment complexes.

Tsunamis

Tsunamis are so-called “tidal waves” which occur after an earthquake. Because Japan is surrounded by oceans, it frequently suffers tsunamis following relatively large earthquakes. If an earthquake occurs, also be aware of the danger of a tsunami. Tsunami warnings are issued together with earthquake bulletins on television, etc.

Typhoons, Torrential Rains, and Storm Surges

Typhoons, like hurricanes, are large storms that evolve from tropical depressions. Typhoons are most common in Japan in the fall. When a typhoon approaches and a weather advisory or warning is issued, prepare for heavy rain and storms, etc., by checking your home, and do not go near flooded rivers and streams.

Be sure you have a flashlight and portable radio.
Be careful of landslides around cliffs and other steep slopes.
Be careful of flooding around rivers.
Be careful of storm surges in coastal areas.
If you believe you are in danger, evacuate as soon as possible.

Foreign Language Broadcasting in Emergencies

Radio

Disaster information and information on the safety of persons is broadcast in English, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Indonesian, etc.

FM interwave 76.5MHz (Yokohama)
FM interwave 76.1MHz (Tokyo)

TV

NHK and BS1/BS2, bilingual channel (English)

Disaster-related Information

Register for email distribution of city disaster-related information (Japanese/English)
http://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/shobo/kikikanri/email.html (Japanese)
http://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/shobo/kikikanri/eq/dpi-net.html (English)

Fire and Disaster Management Bureau TEL: 045-671-2171
http://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/shobo/ (Japanese)
http://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/shobo/kikikanri/index-e.html (English)