What you should do if a level-6 earthquake hits Tokyo at 10AM
Report: Disaster Prevention Drill for the Stranded Commuters
On February 3, 2012, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) held a disaster prevention drill for stranded commuters.
Last year, the Great East Japan Earthquake seriously disrupted the metropolitan transport networks, leaving a number of people stranded in Tokyo with no means of returning home, the fringe area surrounding Tokyo. The drill was designed to develop a cooperative effort between the administrations, private sectors, and all other parts of a society as a whole, to prepare the metropolitan city for another such major disaster. As many as 10,000 people joined the drill this time.
The editor of the Interaction Asia joined the drill as a "stranded commuter" and learned key rules for actions the metropolitan commuters should take when a major disaster hits Tokyo.
Primary rule: Don't attempt to immediately go home at times of disaster
At 10AM, the drill began under a scenario that a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3, intensity level 6 has hit the metropolitan area. An emergency alert message was immediately sent to the participants' mobile phone.
As mentioned in the message alert, it is important at the time of a major earthquake that each of us secures our own safety first and use the disaster emergency message services to check if your family is safe. It should also be avoided to attempt to go home immediately after the earthquake. At the time of the Great East Japan Earthquakes, it took an unexpected length of time for the disrupted train services to resume, leaving approximately 3.5 million people stranded in central Tokyo. I still clearly remember the confusion I saw that evening and also how anxious I felt myself.
If an inland earthquake directly hits the metropolitan area, immediate priority should be given to such activities as rescuing victims, distinguishing fires, and securing emergency transports. It is the TMG's primary rule in disasters that applies to all citizens that attempting to go home immediately should be avoided so as to prevent a panic among crowds rushing home.
Now, you have decided to stay in Tokyo as the TMG advices, but where should you go then? Such information can be obtained through the one-segment broadcasting service*, and also Twitter and other social networking services. I was able to find the information about locations of open temporary shelters through the one-segment broadcasting service.
(Left) Checking information about temporary shelters using the one-segment broadcasting service*
(Right) "Temporary shelters for stranded commuters have been established in the first and second main buildings and the assembly building of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government"
Participants of the drill start moving to a temporary shelter (in front of Shinjuku Station)
Yamagiri, an escort ship of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Evacuating to temporary shelters
Prior to the Great East Japan Earthquake, no facilities had been officially designated in advance to be used as temporary shelters for commuters in case of such a large-scale disaster. As a result, a huge crowd of commuters were stranded in front of train stations and were overflowing to some major facilities, causing a chaotic situation in securing locations of shelters and accepting refugees. Based on this experience, the TMG, in collaboration with the administrations and the private sectors, is currently working toward an increase of the number of facilities as many as possible which are to be opened as a temporary shelter at times of emergency.
After learning the location of the shelter I should go, I finally began to move. I learned with more realistic sense that it is very important to know how to get necessary information by myself, that I should avoid taking an immediate, unplanned move, and that I should move to take shelter at a safe place based on the information I have found.
An escort ship of the Maritime Self-Defense Force provides a new way of saving stranded commuters
It is also a major task of the government to seek appropriate measures to help commuters return home safely as soon as possible.
As part of the drill, an ocean transport drill was also conducted to which a destroyer from the U.S. Navy stationed in Japan as well as an escort ship from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force were sent to simulate a new way of saving stranded commuters.
I joined this experimental training and took a ride on Yamagiri, an escort ship of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. It was about a 2-hour trip on the ocean through the Tokyo Bay to Kanagawa prefecture.
Riding on an escort ship was a first experience for many of the participants of the drill
Participants on board listen to instructions before departure
Participants watching a view of the Tokyo Bay area from the deck
Many participants seemed relieved after the 2-hour transport drill was completed safely
This drill was the first one that was conducted by the TMG by focusing on how to help the metropolitan commuters go home safely at the time of disaster. As with many other participants, I was reminded that being prepared on a daily basis and knowing how to collect necessary information are very important.
While promoting the understanding of its primary rule, "Don't attempt to go home immediately at times of disaster," the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will continue its search of a better solution for the stranded commuters, including responsibilities that the administrations, the private sectors, and citizens are expected to perform respectively.
*The mobile television broadcasting system adopted in Japan.
returns to contents