Disaster Prevention Information for Foreigners
There are frequent disasters in Japan, including earthquakes, typhoons, heavy rain and fires.
You need to know about such disasters in Japan and continually prepare for them.
Disaster Preparation
When a Disaster Occurs
Collecting Information
E-mail newsletter, 「multilingual useful information」
Disaster Preparation
Earthquakes
- (1) Find the safest place in your house.
- (2) Store enough drinking water for three days or more. (at 3 liters per person per day)
- (3) Prepare a backpack or emergency bag and make sure every member of your family knows the place where you keep it.
- (4) Secure furniture and prevent it from falling over by using earthquake proofing devices.
- (5) Apply shatter-proof film to glass items such as windowpanes, cupboards, shelves, etc.
- (6) Make a list of emergency telephone numbers including the numbers of those who can speak your language.
- (7) Confirm beforehand the route from your house to your nearest temporary evacuation center and hospital.
What should be kept in the emergency bag?
- Flashlight
- dry cell batteries
- drinking water
- food
- portable radio
- money (including some 10 yen coins for pay phones)
- passport
- copies of ID card
- valuables such as bankbooks
- matches/lighters
- candles
- a helmet or protective headgear
- a first-aid kit, etc. (Those who require regular medication should be sure to take their medicine with them)
- work gloves
- socks, underwear
- winter clothes, etc.
Typhoons, Floods and Landslides
To minimize the damage caused by imminent catastrophes, such as typhoons, heavy rains, rainstorms, and landslides, regularly watch or listen to the weather forecast.
- (1) Pay attention to the warnings and other information about typhoons and rainstorms broadcasted on radio and TV.
- (2) Do not go out unnecessarily. If you do go out, please return home as soon as possible.
- (3) Please check things around your house. If you find objects that can be blown away easily by strong winds, bring them inside or secure them firmly.
- (4) Seal any gaps around windows and doors with vinyl tape, and if you have shutters please keep them closed.
- (5) Keep a flashlight or some candles to use in case of blackout. Stock extra dry cells, too. Be prepared for a potential blackout. Have a flashlight and/or candles ready. Also, remember to stock spare batteries.
- (6) Prepare an emergency bag for quick evacuation.
- (7) If you live in an area where a flood is likely to occur, move furniture and electrical appliances as high as possible.
- (8) Turn off the main gas outlet.
- (9) Make sure that every member of your family knows the route to the emergency shelter.
- (10) Lead elderly and physically handicapped people to a safe place as soon as you can.
- (11) If you live on or close to a mountain and cliff and are unable to evacuate your residence in time, please take shelter in a place on the second floor facing away from the slope.
Check for the Nearest Evacuation Shelter!
A booklet showing “evacuation shelters” and “safety evacuation areas” where people can go when large scale disasters such as earthquakes occur on the map of Kyoto City in Japanese and English.
Prepare with the Correct Knowledge
This explains how to prepare for fires and earthquakes in 4 different languages (English, Chinese, Korean, Japanese). You can find information such as how to protect yourself from earthquakes and how to call for ambulances and the fire department.
Explanation of disaster preparedness for foreign residents in 9 languages and easy Japanese.
When do I evacuate?
Disaster prevention warning of flood and landslide damage from level 1 to level 5.
Precaution Level | Weather information | Actions You Should Take | Official Announcement from Kyoto City | |
---|---|---|---|---|
5 |
Heavy rain emergency warning・Ongoing river flooding information | Take the utmost possible action to save your life. |
||
4 |
Landslide alert information・Flooding danger information・Storm surge emergency warning・Storm surge warning Danger-level ‘Very dangerous’ (light purple) |
Let’s pay attention to the official announcements from Kyoto City in the areas where the disaster is anticipated. Even if there is no announcement, check the danger level and evacuate if needed. |
Evacuation Order (Emergency) ひなんしじ(きんきゅう) |
|
Call for Evacuation ひなんかんこく |
||||
3 |
Heavy rain warning (Landslide disaster)・Flooding warning・River flooding warning Information・Storm surge advisory Danger-level ‘Warning’ (Red) |
Pay attention to the official announcements from Kyoto City in the areas where the disaster is anticipated. | Prepare for Evacuation/ こうれいしゃとう ひなんかいし |
|
2 |
River flooding advisory・Heavy Rain advisory・Flooding advisory・Storm surge advisory Danger-level ‘Advisory’ (Yellow) |
Check out the areas where the disaster is anticipated and the route to the evacuation shelter on the Hazard Map etc. | ||
1 |
Early stage advisory | Pay attention to the weather warnings and be prepared for a disaster. |
*The Official Announcements from Kyoto City are announced by districts. In case you don’t know which district you live in, let’s ask your neighbors.
Checking out the danger-level *It might change often.
Checking if there is a disaster anticipated in the area you live in. *Japanese
When a Disaster Occurs
When an earthquake occurs
The earthquake tremors will settle after a while, but aftershock may start. Move to safe location while shaking is stopped.
(1) Ensure your personal safety. | Your life is the most important thing; when an earthquake occurs ensure your personal safety. |
---|---|
(2) Turn off the gas and electricity immediately. | Do not panic. First, shout out to others “Hi o kese!” or “Turn off the gas and electricity!”, then turn off all electrical, cooking and heating appliances. |
(3) Secure an exit. | Often doors and windows are deformed by an earthquake becoming jammed and do not budge. Open doors and windows enough that you can create an escape route. Please take special precaution if you live in an apartment or a housing complex. |
(4) If a fire breaks out, extinguish it immediately. | Shout out loud “Kaji da!” and ask your neighbours to help you put out the fire while it is small and manageable. |
(5) Do not rush out of a building. | Do not panic. Be aware of falling objects such as glass fragments and roof tiles when you exit a building. |
(6) Do not go close to or walk along narrow alleys, trenches, cliffs or rivers. | Watch out for brick walls, gateposts, vending machines and other objects that may fall down easily. |
(7) Watch out for landslides and tsunami. | If you are near a mountain or by the sea and feel tremors, prepare to evacuate immediately. |
(8) Escape to a safe place on foot. Take the minimum amount of your belongings necessary. | Walk to your closest designated evacuation center. Do not use a car or a motorcycle. |
(9) Help others in emergency relief works. | Work together with others to help the elderly, physically handicapped, and/or injured people. |
(10) Get accurate information and watch out for aftershocks. | Do not be bothered by rumours and false information. Obtain accurate information via TV or radio. |
After an Earthquake
If you find it difficult to return home, please inform your embassy or consulate, your employer or your school about yourself and your family’s whereabouts.
◆Telephone message service during a disaster(Dial 171)(Saigai-yo Dengon Daiyaru)
① Recording your message
Dial “171”
↓
(Japanese announcement)
↓
Dial “1”
↓
(Japanese announcement)
↓
Dial ***-***-****(Telephone number of the person you want to reach)
↓
Dial “1”
↓
(Japanese announcement)
↓
Message recording(within 30 seconds)
↓
(Japanese announcement)
↓
Dial “9”
↓
(Japanese announcement)
↓
Finish
② Listening to the message
Dial “171”
↓
(Japanese announcement)
↓
Dial “2”
↓
(Japanese announcement)
↓
Dial ***-***-****(Telephone number of the person you want to reach)
↓
Dial “1”
↓
(Japanese announcement)
↓
Replaying message
↓
(Japanese announcement)
↓
Dial “9”
↓
(Japanese announcement)
↓
Finish
For Restoration
◆Disaster Victim Certification(Risai Shoumei)
When a person suffers from heavy rain, a typhoon or a fire and his/her house and/or car is damaged, and they want to receive exemptions and extensions of city tax, he/she needs a “Disaster Victim Certificate (Risai Shoumei-sho)”. Take photographs of the damage. Take these photographs to the local government office. For more information, please consult with the application section of your ward office/branch office.
※Application form to issue a “Disaster Victim Certification(Risai Shoumei-sho)
If the damage was caused by fire, take the application to the fire station. If the damage was caused by wind or flooding, take it to the ward office/branch office.
◆When you start to clean your house(flood damage)
For foreign residents who are victims of flood damage. Explaining with illustrations so it’s easy to understand what is entailed when you start cleaning.
Collect Information(external links)
E-mail newsletter, 「multilingual useful information」
This is a mail magazine that provides needed information at the time of disaster and useful information for foreigners in multiple languages (Japanese, English, Chinese).
For example, you’ll see information like the foll0owing:
*******************************************************
【台風20号にご注意!/Beware of typhoon No.20 !】
大型の台風20号が近づいています。今夜は暴風をともなう
大雨となる可能性があります。 交通機関に遅れや運休が
でていますので、早めの帰宅を心がけましょう。
今後の台風情報に注意してください。
http://www.jma.go.jp/jp/warn/
Big typhoon No.20 is approaching to Japan,
so it may be heavy rain from this evening.
Delays and cancellation of public transport have been
reported. We recommend that you go back home
early today. Please check the weather forecasts and
disaster informations below.
http://www.jma.go.jp/en/typh/
強台風20号正在接近日本本土。今晩有暴風雨的可能性。
交通滞后于時間表,所以我們尽量早点回家。 請尽量早点回家。
敬請関注天気預報。
http://www.jma.go.jp/jp/typh/
強(つよ)い 台風(たいふう)20号(ごう)が 近(ちか)くに
あります。今日(きょう)の 夜(よる)は 風(かぜ)や
雨(あめ)が 強(つよ)く なります。早(はや)く
家(いえ)に 帰(かえ)って ください。
天気予報(てんきよほう) を よく 見(み)て ください。
http://www.jma.go.jp/jp/warn/