更新日：2022年7月19日

 Advice from the Fire Department

Real examples of life as an evacuee

Below is information that will be useful in your life as an evacuee, or should disaster strike. It is taken from actual experiences and will be useful in preparations for the earthquake and in rescues and activities after it occurs. Put this information to good use. (Information supplied by Tonan Fire Station, Kobe)

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Disaster Prevention in the Home

On 17th January 1995, we realized the ferocity and fear of a large-scale earthquake afresh. We witnessed our furniture and electrical appliances suddenly change into deadly weapons and attack us. We now must reevaluate right from the basics how we store our family possessions and the interior layout of our homes, which give priority to appearances and ease of use. Also we must plan our own family disaster survival tactics such as preparing an emergency bag and storing emergency food. Here we were presented in a clear manner real examples taken from experiences of the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. With these as a guide, we must rethink our own families’ disaster survival plans.

 

1. Shatterproof film
2. Water in the toilet
3. Torches
4. Emergency food
5. Outdoor equipment
6. Furniture
7. Crockery shelves
8. Fridges
9. Emergency item bag

 

1. Shatterproof film

Our daily lives feature a surprisingly large amount of glass and pottery, whether it be in windows, cupboards, doors or lighting. The tremors of an earthquake may cause these to break and shatter, changing them into deadly weapons. Also, when the worst has come, they can become a hindrance to walking and the reason people are unable to escape. Kill two birds with one stone by applying to windows anti-UV film or anti-condensation film, which will also prevent damage due to tremors. Recently, specific anti-earthquake shatterproof film has also become available for consumer purchase.

2. Water in the toilet

One of the things that the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake taught us is that earthquakes can cut off lifelines and it seems that there were a lot of people who suffered from a cut-off water supply in particular. Just by leaving bath water in the tub instead of draining it is one way you can manage the danger on an everyday basis. One way of securing a water supply is by using the water in the toilet tank. As this water is used and then replaced on a normal basis, in an emergency it can be used as drinking water. Bath water can be effectively used in an emergency as water for washing or toilet water and also as a method to extinguish flames.

3. Torches

When an earthquake hits there will be a power-cut and we will be plunged into complete darkness. Normally, when you turn out the lights at home it is still surprisingly bright due to street lights and advertising, but an earthquake-caused power-cut will affect the whole city and all light will disappear. It will be an eerie darkness. A torch should be considered an essential disaster prevention item as in such a situation we still must move around. It is something you should have in easy reach.

4. Emergency food

You should always buy in advance and store a month’s supply of mineral water and canned and packet food. Use these in rotation, replacing used items with new ones but always maintaining a month’s supply, and you will have a supply of emergency food for times of disaster.

5. Outdoor equipment

To light up an entire room using a torch you should shine it onto creased aluminum foil on the ceiling. The light will reflect and the room will become surprisingly bright. Also, outdoor equipment could play a large role in your survival. By placing such items in an RV-type vehicle, it can fulfill a role as shelter to a certain extent. If you place emergency rations in as well as a heater, lighting, a radio (television) and a place to sleep then it will be perfect. If you go camping for leisure purposes to a place away from the city without gas, water and electricity, then this too can be thought of as a disaster preparation measure. Apparently, the majority of people who had such outdoor items in their cars at the time of the earthquake pitched their tents in parks or schools yards and using the items completed their evacuee status relatively comfortably.

6. Furniture

The falling of furniture is greatly affected by the direction in which the tremors shake. For safety purposes you should secure furniture with L-shaped metal fasteners. Many people were injured by furniture.

7. Crockery shelves

With the added weight of the crockery, shelves are very heavy. Therefore, when these shake due to earthquake tremors the screws are likely to come loose and the shelf fall unless secured with stronger anti-falling fasteners and screws.

8. Refrigerators

If your house escapes earthquake damage and you can continue to live there, your fridge quickly changes into an emergency food storage container. Due to power cuts it loses the ability to preserve food by chilling it, but if it is winter then the food can still be eaten more or less for 2-3 days. You can also melt the ice in the ice compartment and use it as drinking water. However, you should try to keep mineral water stocked in your fridge at all times, replacing it on rotation.

9. Emergency item bag

The number of families preparing emergency items bags is on the increase, but it seems that the majority of these keep the bag in cupboards. A large-scale earthquake will destroy houses and topple furniture without any mercy whatsoever. It is necessary to have your emergency item bag in a place where it is easily retrievable even if furniture has fallen or, at least, have a torch stored within arm’s reach. Also, even when you do find your emergency bag, it is important that you have a clear idea of which direction you should evacuate in as in times of earthquake sliding doors and furniture will all move around and the layout of your house will change greatly.

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Rescues

When a large-scale earthquake strikes, the damage will be spread over a wide area and it will be difficult for the City's fire services, official, medical centers and administrative bodies to deal with everything alone. The cooperation of all the residents will become essential, especially in rescues and firefighting where time is of the essence. In the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake many people participated in rescue efforts. However, as that was the first occurrence of a vertical-tremor large-scale earthquake in a big city, everything was a new experience. For that reason, all activities after the earthquake, such as rescue efforts, checking the safety of people and escaping from hazardous areas, had to be carried out by trial-and-error. Within that trial-and-error method, a number of ideas, methods and loose rules were created. These are summarized below so that as many people as possible can learn from these experiences.

1.　Whistles/notices
2.　Bike - 1
3.　Bike - 2
4.　Stretchers
5.　Jacks
 

1. Whistles/notices

Rescuing people from collapsed houses takes many hours. Efforts were carried out using all the manpower available, utilizing not just the fire services but aid organizations throughout the whole country, but the damaged area was large and unfortunately not everyone was saved. Each collapsed house was checked one by one, and if there was any signs or any possibility that someone was trapped inside, searches and rescues were carried out thoroughly, but this all took a lot of time. Blowing a whistle was one effective method of informing people of your position. Also, by simply sticking up a piece of paper that informs people that you are safe and the elementary school that you evacuated to is incredibly useful for those carrying out rescue efforts.

2. Bikes - 1

After the earthquake, many people tried to travel by car. This caused massive traffic jams and become a huge hindrance for fire engines and ambulances, and for the transport of emergency material aid. In order for prompt emergency efforts to be carried out, you are urged to show self-restraint with regard to the use of your car and to move around by motorcycles, bicycle or on foot. Also, when moving around following an earthquake, please take enough precaution for the event of after-shocks and tidal waves.

3. Bikes - 2

Roads will be covered with fallen items. These will be items such as oil, glass and metal, which cause accidents. There were many accidents where people caught their necks on hanging electrical wires while riding their bikes. Also, there will be many cracks and non-flat areas in the road. Particular care needs to be taken will those that form at a diagonal to the direction of the road. If your wheel slips into one of these cracks you will fall. Always look carefully at the road and try to traverse cracks at right angles.Please take appropriate care when riding a bike after an earthquake.

4. Stretchers

On the day the earthquake occurred, over 100 injured people were carried to fire stations. The ambulance services were really pushed to their limits. There were many examples of people helping their injured neighbors and transporting them on doors or carts

* Hamamatsu City Fire Department hold emergency first aid courses. There are not just about resuscitation techniques but there are also courses on injury treatment. Please take such a course and master first aid. The City upon completion of such a course will issue a certificate.

5. Jacks

There were many examples of people who were trapped under a collapsed building being rescued by people using jacks. However, care needs to be taken to avoid secondary earthquake damage when using a jack. Jacks are not that sturdy and there is a danger that they will collapse due to frequent aftershocks, so once blocks have been raised by a jack, other blocks should be placed under them for support. Other items can also be very useful: ropes for pulling and securing; saws for cutting pillars, beams and floorboards; and hammers for breaking through doors and furniture. Crowbars can be used for lifting and breaking items as well as the removal of metal roofing.

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Life as an Evacuee

Losing so much and then having to begin life as an evacuee where you do not have necessary material items and have to live in a community that you are not used to is a very difficult task. Many ideas were gained during that period of living together and helping each other out, but these are all things that you would not realize unless you yourself have actually experienced life as an evacuee. However, these are very simple, basic things and may be forgotten over time. So that the wisdom gained is not forgotten, these ideas are introduced below.

1.　Water
2.　Food
3.　Disposable hand-heaters
4.　Electrical appliances
5.　Polystyrene bags
6.　Disinfectant
7.　Toilets
8.　Bicycles
9.　Lighting
 

1. Water

When your water supply has been cut off, you will be thankful for the natural supply from rivers. Even though it is in the city, the water in the Sumiyoshi River is very clean and was used by many people as a place to collect water. Whilst possibly unavoidable due to the nature of the emergency situation, the river was also used by some people as a place to wash clothes. Washing powder was poured into the water, whilst the same water was being used down-stream. You are therefore requested to do your best to wash clothes in an area where dirty water does not flow into the river.

2. Food

There are many stories of how useful small stove decks were. It also seems that some people used these for things like cooking meat as well, but this is very dangerous. There were examples of two decks being used, and then one hob on one stove deck becoming the central point of heating. It would then over heat and explode. Make sure you pay sufficient attention to aspects of safety and not just convenience.

3. Disposable hand-heaters

As time passed, the authorities did start being able to provide a certain level of material aid to those in evacuation areas. However, it was not possible to provide heating equipment. Disposable hand-heaters and makeshift hot water bottles, made by half-filling plastic bottles with boiling water and then wrapping them in towels should be used.

4. Electrical appliances

The electrical supply will be the first one to be restored after household supplies are cut. When you have no water and no gas, electrical equipment becomes very precious. However, there are some electrical items that are very troublesome. There were some cases of electrical items over-heating and starting fires after the electricity supply was restored. Heaters for tropical fish tanks are an example of these. With the tank shattered due to the earthquake, the heater would overheat, as it was no longer surrounded by water. This would cause surrounding burnable items to catch alight and start fires. When there is a power cut after an earthquake has occurred, switch off the main breaker. Then, when the power has been restored, check carefully before turning the breaker back on.

5. Plastic bags

Using newspaper and plastic bags as simple blankets and flattening cardboard boxes and laying them on the floor, is a surprisingly effective method against the cold. Another way of protecting yourself from the cold is to screw up newspaper, open the wrinkled newspaper up again and then stuff it between your under- and outerwear. It will create a warming layer of trapped air. After the earthquake, people just evacuated with only the clothes on their backs and there were some people still dressed in pajamas.

6. Disinfectant

When the water supply is cut off, it is difficult to obtain clean water. Disinfectant contained within a first aid kit can be used to clean wounds, but cannot be used to wash hands before a meal or to wipe the faces of children. Wet-wipes should be added to the items in your emergency bag.

7. Toilets

Portable toilets were delivered to evacuation areas after three days at the quickest, with some places taking about a week. You should prepare for not being able to use your toilet due to a cut water supply, by leaving water in your bathtub so it can be used to flush.

8. Bicycles

We recommend that you carry a pump and a simple puncture repair kit when riding bicycles and motorcycles. The roads will be littered with obstacles so you will almost certainly get a puncture. There will not be public transport facilities running to enable you to get somewhere if you get a puncture.

9. Lighting

You can make a simple oil lamp using tempura oil. Pour water into a metal ashtray or an empty metal can to a depth of two centimeters and then into that pour another two-centimeter’s worth of tempura oil. This will separate into two layers, with the lighter oil rising to the top. Then finely twist a scrap of material and run it through a piece of aluminum foil about the size of a ten-yen piece. This should be floated on the liquid so it is like the wick of a candle. If you then light the wick, you should have about ten hours of light. If you skillfully cut a window into the empty can, you will have yourself an oil lamp complete with shielding from the wind. However, with naked flames such as this, appropriate caution has to be taken to prevent it toppling in the event of an aftershock and also in case of gas leaks.

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