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Preparing for disasters(災害へ備える)

Last updated date:2024/3/1

Foreign language disaster prevention leaflets

These handy pocket-sized disaster prevention leaflets are available in several languages.
*Please print them out using duplex printing (long edge binding) and cut out the guide along the outer lines.
- What you should do in the event of an earthquake, and steps you can take now to make sure you are prepared
English, Korean and Chinese versions
Spanish, Portuguese and Tagalog versions
Vietnamese, Thai and Indonesian versions

How to obtain disaster information

Please look online for information.

Information will be posted on the following websites in the event of a disaster. You will also find a range of advice on things you can do to prepare for disasters.

City of Yokohama website (disaster prevention page)

Japan Meteorological Agency (Multilingual Information on Disaster Mitigation) (external link)(外部サイト)

Please use the app.

アプリのQRコード

You will receive an email in the event of a disaster.

City of Yokohama Disaster Prevention Information Mailing List

Sign up for this mailing list to receive information on disasters (earthquakes, tsunamis, torrential rain, etc.).
To sign up, please send an email to the following address.
You will then receive an email containing instructions on how to register.

Japanese
Email: bousai-yokohama@cousmail-entry.cous.jp

防災情報Eメール登録用二次元コード日本語版


English *You will be sent less information than if signing up for the Japanese version.
Email: bousai-yokohama-en@cousmail-entry.cous.jp

防災情報Eメール登録用二次元コード英語版


You will receive an emergency alert email in the event of a disaster.

Mobile phone and smartphone users in Yokohama City will receive information on disasters (earthquakes, tsunamis, torrential rain, etc.) on their phone.
No registration is required for this service.

X (formerly Twitter)

The City of Yokohama posts information on disasters (earthquakes, tsunamis, torrential rain, etc.) on its X (formerly Twitter) account.

X (formerly Twitter) account of the Crisis Management Office, General Affairs Bureau, City of Yokohama(外部サイト)

You can register your safety status. And you can also search for people.

Safety measures you can take at home

- Large earthquakes can topple furniture and send objects flying everywhere. Please make sure to secure furniture and consider your room's layout.
- Examples of things you can use to help prevent your furniture from toppling over include L-shaped fittings, adhesive mats, and tension rods.
- Avoid placing heavy objects in high locations. Instead, keep them lower down in drawers, etc.

Illustration of tension rods

Preparation of emergency provisions and supplies and an emergency kit

- In the wake of a disaster, you will have difficulty purchasing food and other everyday items. Prepare the necessary emergency provisions and supplies according to your family's needs. Also, make sure to prepare an emergency kit that you can pick up and take with you immediately when evacuating.
- Prepare at least three days' worth of provisions and supplies.
- One of the best ways to ensure that you always have a sufficient stock of items is to follow the rolling stock principle - i.e. create an ongoing stock by buying a little more food and other everyday items than you usually need according to who is in your family and your lifestyle, and use up your stock in order while constantly replacing items with new ones.

Emergency provisions and supplies

Drinking water
Amount per person: 9 liters for 3 days. For a family of 3, for example, this would mean 3 people × 9 liters = 27 liters.
Food
Foods which do not require cooking, such as crackers, canned foods (in cans which do not require a can opener), etc.
If you have any allergies, please keep a stock of items suitable for your needs.
Emergency toilet sets
People are said to urinate on average 5 times a day. This means you will need around 15 emergency toilet sets for 3 days. You can purchase these at a home center, etc.

Emergency kit items

Flashlight or lantern
Make sure to also prepare some spare batteries.
Portable radio
Make sure to prepare a radio which can receive both AM and FM frequencies, as well as a large stock of spare batteries.
Valuables
Cash, bank book, seal, health insurance card
Other items
Paper plates, paper cups, first aid kit (adhesive plasters, etc.), everyday medicine, medicine handbook, cell phone charger, wet wipes, sanitary items, plastic bags, towels, toothbrush and toothpaste, work gloves, cellophane wrap, a whistle

Evacuation sites

Seek shelter in an evacuation site if your home is no longer safe because it is at risk of collapse or a fire.

Temporary evacuation sites

If you need to evacuate, please first go to the local evacuation site designated by your neighborhood association, etc. However, circumstances may mean that you need to go directly to another evacuation site without first going to the local evacuation site.

Evacuation areas

Evacuation areas are places for people to go when fires are spreading.
These sites can be used temporarily to protect yourself from the radiant heat and smoke of spreading fires caused by an earthquake.

Evacuation shelters

Evacuation shelters serve as places for people to go if their homes have be rendered uninhabitable due to earthquake damage.
These shelters open in Yokohama City in the event an earthquake measuring 5 or more on the seismic scale is recorded, even if only in a single location. Anybody can seek refuge in one of these shelters. These shelters are stocked with minimal supplies of food and water that people will need for daily life during their temporary stay. And they are also equipped with equipment needed for rescue work, etc.
Things to be aware of when evacuating
You are not allowed to drive to evacuation shelters in a car. Please walk when evacuating.

Talk about what to do in the event of a disaster with your family

- Decide how to contact each other in the event of a disaster.
- Decide on a place to evacuate or congregate in the event of a disaster.

Disaster prevention maps

Emergency water supply map

Emergency water supply stations are places where anybody can obtain drinking water in the event that water supplies are cut off as a result of a disaster, etc. The emergency water supply map shows the location of these emergency water supply stations in each ward.
- Please check the location of your nearest emergency water supply station so you know where to go should a disaster occur.
- Containers for storing water are not provided at emergency water supply stations, so please make sure to prepare your own.
Emergency water supply map page

Flood hazard map

This is a map of areas which are predicted to flood in the event a river overflows due to heavy rain.
- Please check whether your home or workplace is located within a flood area, and the depth at which it is expected to flood.
Flood hazard map page

About tsunami evacuation measures

- You need to check where your nearest evacuation site is and how long it takes to get there.
- If you feel strong or prolonged shaking during an earthquake, or if you receive information such as a tsunami warning, please evacuate to higher ground as soon as possible.
- Please stay in a safe place until the tsunami warning etc. has been lifted.
Tsunami evacuation measures page

Landslide disaster hazard map

This map, which shows areas that are at risk from landslides in the event of heavy rain, was created in order to inform citizens what action they should take when confronted with a potential landslide, such as evacuation, etc.
- Please check whether your home or workplace is at risk from a landslide.
Landslide disaster hazard map page

Internal water flood hazard map

This map shows areas that are at risk of flooding if water overflows from manholes, water channels, etc. as a result of heavy rain, and the depths at which flooding is expected.
- Please check whether your home or workplace is located within a flood area, and the depth at which it is expected to flood.
Internal water flood hazard map page

Storm surge hazard map page

This map shows areas that are at risk of flooding as a result of a high tide along the Tokyo Bay coastline caused by a powerful typhoon, and the depths at which flooding is expected.
- Please check whether your home or workplace is located within a predicted high tide flood area, and the depth at which it is expected to flood.
Storm surge hazard map page

Where to inquire
ContentContact details
About foreign language disaster prevention leafletsGeneral Affairs Division, General Affairs Department, International Affairs Bureau *Inquiries in Japanese only
Tel: 045-671-3826
Fax: 045-664-7145
Email: ki-somu@city.yokohama.jp
About how to obtain disaster informationEmergency Measures Division, General Affairs Bureau (*Inquiries in Japanese only)
Tel: 045-671-2029
Fax: 045-641-1677
Email: so-kinkyu@city.yokohama.jp

About safety measures you can take at home
About the preparation of emergency provisions and supplies and an emergency kit
About evacuation sites
About disaster prevention maps

Regional Disaster Prevention Division, General Affairs Bureau (*Inquiries in Japanese only)
Tel: 045-671-3456
Fax: 045-641-1677
Email: so-chiikibousai@city.yokohama.jp

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