Surviving in Japan: (without much Japanese): Emergency

It's still March 10 here in the States, but it's March 11 now in Japan. I hope we can all take a moment to remember those who have been affected by the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster and also support and help those still going through difficulties in any small way we can. Although my family has been going through a lot this past year, I feel it fades in comparison, and my mind sometimes goes back to that day and following weeks. It's not something I can forget. And my post last year at this time says it all really.

I do want to share today's guest post with you from WaNavi Japan. If you're living in Japan or planning to move there at any time in the future, I recommend preparing yourself (and family, if applicable) as much as possible. Have an emergency kit. Stock some dry food and lots of water. Know where to get information, especially if you don't understand Japanese, so you can protect yourself (and your family). WaNavi Japan explains more about all this below.

-Ashley

Everyone knows that Japan is an earthquake-prone country, but the events of March 2011 made it much more real for many of us living in Japan or considering a move to Japan. It’s easy to think that since you can’t predict when or where an earthquake will occur, or what damage will result, you can’t do much to prepare for one.

This is not the case.

We can learn how to be prepared by seeing how Japanese society prepares and educates their citizens to respond to earthquakes.

Disaster risk management includes both planning for and responding to disasters. In Japan planning starts early -- young children are educated about how important it is to stay safe. They learn to hide under a table or cover their heads when the shaking starts or when they hear an earthquake early warning alarm.

When you feel shaking, try to protect your head and stay calm. Once the shaking stops, you need to get accurate information and respond appropriately. The more you know about the information sources available to you and what information you need, the more likely you will be able to stay calm and make the best decisions about how to react.

Important Information and Communication Tools

On Friday, March 11, 2011 around 2:45 pm, a 9.0 earthquake struck just off the coast of northeastern Japan, followed by many, many subsequent aftershocks that still haven't stopped. They are expected to continue for weeks. The quake was felt over much of Japan (even here in Shizuoka) but particularly bad in the Tohoku region. A tsunami warning was put into effect immediately after the quake for the entire east coast of Japan, and not long after the coastal regions of Sendai, Miyagi and others were struck. The tsunami warnings extended around other parts of Japan and across the Pacific basin. Currently, no tsunami warnings are in place.

I have been tweeting and retweeting resources and updates on Twitter at @survivingnjapan about the earthquake since this afternoon and will continue to do so as appropriate in the coming weeks. You'll find more frequent updates there.