Preparing for a Disaster
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- What to Do Before a Disaster Occurs
What to Do Before a Disaster Occurs
What happens when a natural disaster occurs?
When a big disaster occursHave your residence card (zairyu card) and a copy of your passport with you
Personal identification documents are important. In case you lose the original document, having a copy will help prove your identity.
Carry the SOS card with you
The SOS card can be used to ask for help from people. It says on the card, “I cannot speak Japanese. Please help me.”
Please conctact Fukushima Internatinoal Association if you want the card.
Learn disaster-related Japanese words and phrases
Multilingual information will not always be available when a disaster occurs.
It would be useful to familiarize yourself with these disaster-related terms in Japanese.
| Japanese Words | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 避難(ひなん) | Hinan | Evacuation |
| 避難所(ひなんじょ) | Hinanjo | Evacuation Center |
| 地震(じしん) | Jishin | Earthquake |
| 余震(よしん) | Yoshin | Aftershock |
| 避難(ひなん) | Hinan | Evacuation |
| 津波(つなみ) | tsunami | tsunami |
| 高台(たかだい) | Takadai | High ground |
| 台風(たいふう) | Taifu | Typhoon |
| 洪水(こうずい) | Kozui | Flood |
| 土砂崩れ(どしゃくずれ) | Doshakuzure | Landslide |
| 竜巻(たつまき) | Tatsumaki | Tornado |
| 助けてください(たすけてください) | Tasukete kudasai | Please help me |
Have an emergency contact list
In order to let people know where you are and that you’re safe, have a list of emergency contacts such as your family members, friends and your country’s embassy.
Decide with your family an emergency meeting place or evacuation shelter
During a disaster, there is a possibility for family members to become separated.
It is important to decide beforehand with your family a meeting place or an evacuation shelter to go to.
Check how to receive disaster-related information as well as how to use the disaster message board service
It is important to check beforehand how to receive information and use the service so that in an emergency, it will be a smooth process.
Prepare a survival kit
You should pack all the basics and necessities in a bag, which you can quickly bring with you.
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Do What You Can to Reduce Personal Risk (Shiga Prefecture）
http://www.s-i-a.or.jp/hijyou/saigai/jishin-eng.html
Get to know your neighbors and participate in regional disaster drills
During an emergency, neighbors will help each other so it is important to regularly interact with your neighbors and greet them.
Also, you should participate in your region’s disaster drills and check how to get to an evacuation shelter.
Useful Links for Daily Life in Japan
- Stay Safe with NHK WORLD-JAPAN (NHK)
- https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/special/staysafe/
- Multilingual Disaster Prevention Video “It’s an earthquake! What should I do?” (Sendai Tourism, Convention and International Association)
- http://int.sentia-sendai.jp/blog/j/j-1650/
- Information to Help When Disaster Prevention and Disaster (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation “TSUNAGARI”)
- https://tabunka.tokyo-tsunagari.or.jp/english/information/howto.html
- Important information on countermeasures against earthquake disasters (Fire and Disaster Management Agency)
- https://www.fdma.go.jp/relocation/bousai_manual/e/index.html
- Be prepared for earthquakes (Institute of Scientific Approaches for Fire & Disaster)
- https://www.bousai-kensyu.com/wpshobou/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/5131c91851d33ec985d1e4f17a192738.pdf
- Fukushima Prefecture’s Disaster Preparedness Guidebook “Preparedness Fukushima Handbook” (Fukushima Prefecture)
- https://www.pref.fukushima.lg.jp/uploaded/attachment/259583.pdf
- Disaster Prevention Information in Fukushima “Preparing for Disasters” (Fukushima Prefecture)
- https://www.pref.fukushima.lg.jp/site/bousai/link-bousai.html#a05
- Multilingual Living Information “Emergencies/Disasters” (Council of Local Authorities for International Relations)
- http://www.clair.or.jp/tagengorev/en/p/index.html
If you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to ask us.
Fukushima International Association's Help Desk for Foreign Residents
https://www.worldvillage.org/life/en/consultation/consultation.htmlPlease take a look here as well.
Ministry of Justice「A DAILY LIFE SUPPORT PORTAL FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS」
