Natural Disasters and SafetyALT Program Coordinator

Patrick Grimes

Staying Healthy in JapanBesides Covid….

● Heat stroke

● Dehydration

● Cold / flu season

● Hypothermia

● Hay fever

● Food poisoning, norovirus

Staying Healthy in Japan● Hydration

● Keep warm / cool

● Wash hands (with soap &

warm water, if possible)

● Hand sanitizer

● Masks

● Eat fresh foods

What disasters may you encounter in Japan?(Hint: Besides this presentation…)

● Earthquakes / Tsunamis

● Typhoons

● Landslides

● Flooding

● Tornadoes

● Accidents, Crime, Theft, etc.

Ring of Fire → Earthquakes● Earthquakes are quite common!

● As of 10:00 A.M. today, Japan has had…

○ 0 earthquakes in the past day

○ 8 earthquakes in the past week

○ 47 earthquakes in the past month

○ 503 earthquakes in the past yearearthquaketrack.com/p/japan/recent

Magnitude vs. “Seismic Intensity”● Major earthquakes (magnitude 7+) much less common

● Japan uses “seismic intensity” (震度 shindo) scale

● 1 earthquake = 1 magnitude

● Seismic intensity is the “real feel” and changes based

on distance and depth from epicenterhttps://www.jma.go.jp/jma/kishou/know/shindo/shindo-gaiyo.png

Seismic Intensity 0-2

● 0: No earthquake

● 1: Some stationary

people inside may feel something

● 2: Majority of stationary people

inside feel some shaking

Seismic Intensity 3● Most people feel the tremors

● Some people may become

surprised or scared

● Tableware may rattle

● Electric wires sway slightly

Seismic Intensity 4● Most people will be surprised.

● Most sleeping people wake up.

● Hanging objects sway a lot.

● Unstable objects may fall over.

● Electric wires sway a lot.

Seismic Intensity lower 5（５弱）

● Most people become afraid and

grab onto something.

● Some tableware and books may

fall off shelves.

● Most unstable objects fall over

and furniture may move.

Seismic Intensity upper 5（５強）

● Most people have difficulty

controlling their movements.

● Most tableware and books may

fall off shelves.

● Most unstable concrete block

walls collapse.

Seismic Intensity lower 6（６弱）

● It is difficult to stand.

● Most heavy furniture moves

or falls over.

● Many doors will not open.

● Many tiles break and fall off,

window panes crack and fall.

Seismic Intensity upper 6（６強）

● It is impossible to stand.

● Almost all heavy furniture

moves or falls over.

● The ground may crack open.

● Unstable buildings will crack

and sway.

Seismic Intensity 7 (Maximum)● People are tossed about.

● Most furniture moves and may

be thrown about.

● Weak buildings collapse;

concrete buildings may tilt.

● Windows break.

Preparing for a Natural Disater● Get supervisor/BC contact info

● Register with your embassy, etc.

● Know your Evacuation Center

● Keep a disaster kit

● Secure furniture, heavy objects, etc.

● Participate in drills

(at work, school, etc.)

A disaster kit should contain…● Food and water (3+ days)

● Necessary medication (e.g. insulin)

● Plasticware, wipes

● Manual can opener

● Flashlight with batteries

● Masks, filters

● Sanitation

● Blankets and warm clothes

● ID, cash, paper copies, contacts

During an Earthquake...● Protect yourself (take cover)!

● Turn off any open flames

and circuit breakers.

● Open a door or two.

● Stay calm!

After an Earthquake...● Identify other possible risks and take appropriate action (e.g. risk

of tsunami, landslides)

● Contact (in this order):

○ Authorities (crime, accident)

→ 110 Police, 119 Fire

○ Block Coordinator

○ Supervisor(s) at work

○ Family and friends

● Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)

Earthquake Warning Systems● JMA / Government Warnings

● Yurekuru Call

● Yahoo 防災速報 (bousai sokuhō)

● Television

● Block Coordinators

Tropical Storms and Typhoons● Northwestern Pacific Ocean is

most active basin on Earth.

● Average of 25.7 tropical storms

or stronger each year.

● Average of 16 typhoons each

year (Note: not all hit Japan).

Preparing for Typhoons● Ensure home is sturdy.

● Check for cracks, loose

windows, etc.

● Check your roof/gutters.

● Bring in loose objects

from outside (e.g. bike).

● Store food and water.

● Turn off electronics

when not in use.

● Move furniture and

valuables, keep secure.

● Stay inside.

Crime and Theft● Low Crime Rate ≠ No Crime

● Secure valuables inside and

outside your home.

● Trust your instincts.

● Treat Japan as everywhere else.

● Tell someone when something is suspicious.

Prevalent Crimes in Japan● Bicycle theft

● Sagi (詐欺, fraud): suspicious phone calls, door to

door salesmen, get-rich schemes

● Illegal garbage disposal, recycling

● Compensated/JK dating services

● Sexual assault, harassment

● Elderly crimes

Legal rights in japan● Japan is a civil law country (follow codified law) U.S. is a

common law country (judicial opinion)

● Japan: 1 lawyer per 4,000 people (U.S. 1 in 250)

● Most cases resolved outside of court (changing)

● Police and prosecutors have power to control or limit

access to legal counsel

● Can be confined up to 23 days

● Police have tendency to coerce a confession

● Poor confinement conditions

Contacting Students● Bottom line: NO

● Teachers need permission from the Principal in order

to contact students privately.

● Ask your supervisor if absolutely necessary.

● “But my students want to practice their English!”

● “They aren’t my students anymore, so it’s okay now!”

Breaking the Law● Differences in laws and punishment

● “Like what? How bad could they

possibly be?”

● Jett and the Terrible, Horrible, No

Good, Very Illegal Day…