Japan's Earthquake and Tsunami Preparation
Proactive preparation:
The Japanese government worked hard for decades to notify the people of necessary actions in the case of an earthquake. The people were educated through news reports, schools and offices. The majority of Japanese schools informs students about the emergencies and adapts various drills. Some school practice emergency drills every month and some even more often. There is a day in Japan called the "Disaster Prevention Day", on September 1st, where people gather together and discuss of new methods to quickly prepare themselves for the earthquakes. They also have practice earthquake and tsunami drills. http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/kyodo-news-international/130901/japan-holds-nationwide-quake-drill-disaster-prevention For many years, Japan has spent billions of dollars to develop advanced technology to protect the country against earthquakes and tsunamis. Japanese people have lived through many earthquakes and are better prepared that other country, because they know how to react to earthquakes. Local authorities in Japan can contact residents through warning systems set up in each home so the people are aware there’s a danger. In addition some towns in Japan next to the coast have networks of sensors that can sound alarms in every residence. One of the ways Japanese people prepare for earthquakes and tsunamis is by the regular drills. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/12/world/asia/12codes.html?pagewanted=all In 1952, Japan set up seismic activity sensors to monitor the movements of the surface and the crust, thus to quickly warn the people of any geologic activities that can cause damage. In 1980’s and 1990’s after a tsunami hit Japan, there were concrete seawalls built around the country some as high as 40 feet. Japan also invests in automated floodgates that prevent waves from flooding the coastal regions. New buildings in Japan have advanced devices called base isolation pads, which are situated at the very bottom of the excavation for a building and energy dissipation units to dampen the ground’s shaking during an earthquake. Whenever an earthquake of any magnitude occurs in Japan, trains get a signal and immediately stop in order to prevent accidents and getting derailed. http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/japan-s-strict-building-codes-saved-lives-91117 Japan’s “massive public education program” could in the end have saved the most lives. In one town in Japan which was struck by an earthquake in 1960, emergency sirens are texted three times a day. Therefore prepared people only need 5-10 minutes to get into safe area. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/12/world/asia/12codes.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 |
Reactive preparation:
The warning was issued just eight seconds after the first wave of the earthquake was detected and residents of Tokyo received a minute of warning before the strong shaking hit the city, thanks to Japan's earthquake early warning system. Text messages were sent to phones 52 million phones automatically, alerts appeared on all TV channels, messages were sent to 124 TV stations, sirens went off and police alerted residents to the danger. Japanese people were well prepared within 10 minutes after the earthquake. However, people had become so used to the false alarms/evacuations that some were not ready to believe that a disaster was heading their way. The country's seismic building codes and early warning system prevented many deaths from the earthquake, by stopping high-speed trains and factory assembly lines. The Japanese media constantly reported on what is going on in the tsunami-affected regions in order for people to know what's happening and whether they are endangered. http://www.livescience.com/18592-japan-tohoku-earthquake-lessons-learned.html Buildings The design and construction of the Japanese buildings withstood the shock of a 9.0 magnitude earthquake. Hence the proactive approach correctly focuses as “preparedness, prevention and mitigation”. Evacuation 60,000 - 70,000 city residents evacuated to shelters. More than 83,000 people living within 3 miles of two power plants begin a government-ordered evacuation. There were 244,000 refugees who were seeking shelter in the Japanese earthquake relief camps. Help Japan earthquake relief organizations had been handing out water bottles to survivors due to the contaminated water by the radiation emitted from the plant. After the earthquake and tsunami took place many “crisis teams” made of regular people like managers, departmental executives and officers were formed in helping recover from the disaster. Around 63 'temporary duty' personnel from unrelated jobs helped in reactive actions from the tsunami. According to 49% of people asked, the temporary duty officers were most helpful. Large city alarms were set off with a voice telling people to watch out for the tsunami. Also, people were given directions on where to go and what places are endangered. http://www.international.gc.ca/about-a_propos/oig-big/2005/evaluation/tsunami.aspx?lang=eng |