What to do When an Earthquake
Strikes?
Firstly, stay calm and ensure that you are not in
danger
WHEN YOU ARE INDOORS
In your house:
- If you feel shaking, hide underneath a table or desk. If this is not possible,
cover your head with a pillow or cushion.
- Do not go outside until the shaking has stopped.
- Open doors and windows to ensure you have escape routes.
- If using gas stoves or other equipment, extinguish all flames immediately
(turn off the gas mains)
- Turn off the electricity
- If fire breaks out, use an extinguisher to put out all fires immediately.
- If fire breaks out when using kerosene or cooking oil, do not use water,
use something such as a damp shirt to cover the pot and extinguish the flames.
In a supermarket or department store:
- If you feel shaking, protect your head with your bag and step away from
the shelves.
- Stay close to walls or large pillars.
- Do not rush for exits and follow the directions of staff. When evacuating
use the stairs and not the elevators.
- If you are in the elevator and it stops moving, use the emergency phone
inside and wait for assistance.
Underground:
- Stay close to walls or large pillars.
- If the lights fail, stay calm and wait for the emergency lighting to come
on.
- If fire breaks out and the area fills with smoke, cover your nose and mouth
with a handkerchief or towel and escape in the direction from which the cool
air is coming and follow the wall to the nearest exit.
WHEN YOU ARE OUTDOORS
In a residential area:
- Quickly move away from stone or block walls and move to a safe place.
- Glass and roof tiles may fall, so move quickly to open areas such as parks
and avoid going near buildings.
In a shopping or building arcade:
- Without stopping, protect your head with bags or similar items and evacuate
to a park or other open spaces.
- Do not go near buildings, block walls or vending machines.
- Do not go near fallen power lines.
- Be careful of broken glass, signs and other fallen objects.
In a train or subway carriage:
- Hold tightly to straps and rails in case the train or subway stops suddenly.
- If the train or subway stops, do not jump out of windows or attempt to unlock
the emergency door and leave the carriage.
- Follow the announcements of train staff and act in a calm manner.
When driving:
- Pull over to the left side of the road or an open space and turn off the
engine.
- If police are controlling traffic, follow their directions.
- If leaving your vehicle, leave the key in the lock and the doors unlocked.
OBTAINING ACCURATE INFORMATION
- Pay attention to information given on radio and television and do not react
hastily to inaccurate information.
- Refrain from making unnecessary telephone calls. Inquiries made to the Fire
Department regarding the situation of the disaster hamper the efforts of emergency
services.
PROTECTING OUR TOWN
If an earthquake occurs in our town it is possible to consider that communication
by telephone will be rendered impossible, roads will be damaged, and the spread
of fire will split the functions of the town, decreasing the effectiveness of
the fire brigade and other disaster relief activities.
Therefore, we should all cooperate in helping to extinguish fires and assisting
those who are trapped under rubble and in damaged buildings.
It is also important within our local community to make emergency contact lists
and discuss ways to evacuate the elderly and disabled in the event of an earthquake.
Source: http://www.pref.saitama.lg.jp/A05/BC00/bousai/index_e.html
Date Created: 11/8/05
Date/Time Last Modified: 11/8/2005 11:29:56 AM
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