English Information

English News

Update Day : 2016年4月27日

Earthquake

Japan is famous for its earthquakes. They can strike anytime and could be any magnitude. Hyuga has far fewer earthquakes than much of the rest of Japan, but is still seismically active. Large earthquakes can cause tsunamis which can be even more dangerous than the earthquake. It is important to have disaster prevention measures in place and a plan in order to lessen damage in the event of an earthquake.

 

 In the event of an Earthquake

At Occurance
  • Create an escape route by opening a door or window (walls can warp jamming doors closed).
  • Go under a sturdy table, hold on to it with one hand so you can stay under it, and protect your head and neck.
  • Do not panic or go outside.
  • Put out fires, but do not bother with difficult fires.

Once the shaking has subsided
  • If you are in an area at risk of a tsunami or landslide, evacuate immediately.

0-5 mins later
  • Secure the safety of your family and extinguish fires, being careful of broken glass and fallen furniture.

5-10 mins later
  • Secure an emergency exit, take along an emergency kit.
  • Close all gas valves and flip off electricity breakers.
  • Listen to information on the radio, TV, etc. Accurate information is important.

10 mins to half a day later
  • Check on your neighbors, especially those who require assistance during emergencies.
  • Prevent the spread of fires and help injured persons.
  • If there is a danger of your house collapsing, evacuate to an evacuation shelter or area.
  • Confirm the safety of relatives not currently with you (use Emergency Message Hotlines or Messageboards)

Half a day to 3 days later
  • Prepare some bare necessities to last a few days. After an earthquake, water, gas, electricity and phone lines will be temporarily unusable. There will also be a shortage of food. Always have an emergency ration of food prepared.

【During the Great Hanshin/Awaji Earthquake, it took 1 week for electricity, 2 weeks for phone lines and 3 months for gas and water to resume proper operations.】

 Safety Measures at Home

  ・Create a safe space as a refuge from danger away from large furniture that can tip or windows.

  ・Avoid furniture in bedrooms with elderly or children. Furniture can be a hazard if there is an earthquake during the night and prevent evacuation.

  ・Large furniture like dressers, refrigerators, etc. can shift or fall over. You should try to prevent this with anchors or other anti-tip devices.

  ・Do not place objects in exits or along passageways. These objects can shift and obstruct the passageway, preventing escape.

In the event of a Tsunami

  ・Move to higher ground.
This could be a hill, mountain, or tall building, but remember, distance from the coast does not matter as much as height above sea level. See the evacuation location list.

  ・Even a small tremor can cause a tsunami.
Earthquakes have both shindo (intensity) and magnitude (energy), a tremor that feels small, might actually be a big enough magnitude to produce a large tsunami, so be aware.

  ・Be aware, even if the tide does not go out.
If the tide goes out, that is a good indicator that a tsunami is coming, but tsunamis are not always preceded by an unusually low tide. Depending on how an earthquake strikes and the topography, the tide may or may not recede.

 ・Tsunamis travel fast.
Tsunamis can move so fast that “tsunami advisories" cannot be issued in time. You should evacuate immediately.

 ・Act calmly and stay informed.
You should get accurate information from the radio, TV, and city wide disaster PA radio network (NHK provides a tsunami risk graphic following a major earthquake). Follow those around you if you don't understand Japanese.

Other Situations

 When you`re outside in an urban area

 ・Window glass and signs can fall down during an earthquake. Get as far as you can from buildings, protect your head with any objects you have available, and escape to the nearest park as soon as possible.

When you`re driving a car

 ・Park your car on the left side of the road and stop your engine.

 ・Listen to the radio for information.

 ・Once the shaking subsides, do not try to escape in your car. Escape by foot and hold on to any important items such as your driver`s license.

When you`re inside an elevator

 ・Press the stop button for each floor, and get off on whatever floor the elevator stops on.

 ・If the door won`t open due to the electricity being cut, press the emergency button (非常ボタン) to call for help.

When you`re in your workplace

 ・Designate someone as an emergency leader, draw up a plan and use it when a disaster occurs.

When you`re on a bus or train

 ・Follow the directions of the transport staff.

When you`re underground

 ・Underground is relatively safe compared to the surface. Listen to the instructions of any relevant people in charge. If there are no instructions, move along the wall and find the nearest exit.

 

If you can`t return home

 ・Many people work, shop, and go to school far from their house. Following an earthquake, public roads and transportation may stop or encounter serious problems making it difficult or impossible to return home.

10 Things to Keep in Mind When You Can`t Go Home

(1)Keep your cool and confirm the situation

(2)Use a handheld radio for information.

(3)Keep snacks and other simple foods on hand (like in your desk)

(4)Talk to your family beforehand (about meeting spots)

(5) Use the disaster message dial system to confirm how safe things are.

(6)Keep a pair of sneakers and emergency goods at your workplace too

(7)Plan out a route home beforehand

(8)Practice walking that route

(9)Prepare season specific items (towels, electric circuits, etc)

(10)Help out your neighbors and fellow residents during a disaster
担当課 総合政策部 地域コミュニティ課
所在地 〒883-8555 宮崎県日向市本町10番5号
電話番号 0982-66-1005
FAX番号 0982-54-8747
メールアドレス kyoudou@hyugacity.jp