tokyo earthquake precautions

[DaSwede]

One of my half-sisters is going to live in Tokyo for eight months with her entire family, toddlers and all. She's very anxious about the fact that Tokyo is predestined to be the scene of a great earthquake sooner or later, so much so that she can't really stand browsing the internet for precautions, since she invariably stumbles across stories that just heighten the anxiety she's already feeling. What really scares her is the thought of everybody being spread across the city when and if it happens - husband at work, she herself at home with their baby boy, and their three year old girl at preschool. What would you say are the must-know precautions to take?

Thank you very much!

[JonnoGenie]

Japan is really geared up for earthquakes I must say. I spent around 1.5 years there and experienced around 4 tremors, two of them quite big/long. Big to me, water off a ducks back to the locals!

I understand your relatives concern, but the issue is much smaller than she might think. Much of Tokyo was levelled in WW2 (and afterwards), and most modern buildings are designed to be earthquake resistant.

- Example, the block of flats I lived in was built as a 20m*20m 'square cylinder' around a central courtyard, 20-30 floors high. Like a big tube. Much stronger than a standard building.

- My office was more of a 'standard building' design, but on the top floor (circa 30th). The whole floor was filled with huge metal dampers that would oscillate in the opposite way to any ground/movements and hence cancel them out. Amazing really.

At my flat. The Fire Brigade came down and we did a statutory annual 'earthquake evacuation drill'. We had to put on hoods and stuff and they sprayed out loads of imitation smoke, it was actually quite a laugh.

Anyway, you get the picture, to the Japanese it is not really a big deal.

What you relative might do, is wherever her family members might be, ensure all of them have practised the fire exit routes, and know where the 'muster points' are. If a young child, check that day-care teachers can explain this (to show they know...(but you can assume they will, it is so drilled into people)).

At home, keep a torch on hand and some emergency rations, esp. water. One of those torches that works my shaking, and does not rely on normal batteries that might go flat is a much better idea.

Other than that, don't worry too much. Japan is a fantastic place, and the people are lovely. 8 months there .... oh I am green with envy! Long enough to get a hang of the place, not too long to get jaded :-)

HTH

[DaSwede]

JonnoGenie, thank you so much, this is fabulous - informative as well as reassuring. Your facts on buildings are great. They have not yet decided where to live, so the info you provided here may well become a factor in that decision.

I never knew there were torches that are activated by shaking - that is so smart.

I will forward your reply to my half-sister, and I know she'll be grateful. Bless you!

[JonnoGenie]

Great, I'm glad that was of interest!

Re the torch, cut/paste the following string into Google, and you'll get plenty of hits back...

Torch shake "no batteries"

[goldfish1]

Re the battery-free torch. I bought one in Morrison's Supermarket last year - you wind it up. Excellent invention.

[DaSwede]

goldfish 1, that's brilliant. (No pun intended.) Morrison's Supermarket may be a bit of a detour... (we live in Sweden), but now my sister and her family will know what to look for - I'm sure we must sell that kind of gear over here too. I seem to recall having once seen a wind-up radio. At the time I thought it just a joke; I see now that is isn't.

Thanks!

[goldfish1]

Hi DaSwede - should have looked at the name! Seen the torches in Aldi & Lidl too.

[DaSwede]

Lidl we have!