Disaster Preparedness: Shinagawa City’s Disaster Prevention Measures
The Great East Japan Earthquake that struck last year caused enormous loss and damage in Japan. If a major earthquake struck here in metropolitan Tokyo where we live, it is estimated that there would be loss and damage on a major scale as well.
It is important to bear in mind the two principles of actions to take during an emergency—Protecting yourself and protecting your town with neighbors—and to prepare for disaster on a regular basis. Shinagawa City also pours great efforts into planning to make the city strong in the face of a disaster. In this issue, we will describe some of the disaster preparedness measures Shinagawa City pursues.
Sequence of Evacuation Procedures When an Earthquake Strikes
● School Evacuation Sites
If your home has collapsed or been damaged by fire and living there is not possible, you can go to one of the local municipal elementary or junior high schools or other facilities designated as evacuation sites for temporary living for each town association/neighborhood association or district. (For more information, please ask either your local town association or the Disaster Prevention Section.) Shinagawa City has agreements with metropolitan schools and private schools, as well as with private facilities to serve as additional evacuation sites and temporary living space in the case of a disaster.
● Storage of Supplies
Shinagawa City maintains the following disaster-related resources:
・ Warehouses in municipal elementary and junior high schools (51 locations)
・ Disaster countermeasures warehouses (12 locations plus other supplementary locations)
・ Water supply tanks for disaster countermeasures (four locations with a total reserve of 4,600 cubic meters as well as local elementary and junior high school water tanks)
・ Blankets (currently over 90,000, with more being added regularly)
・ Portable toilets (1,500 units)
● Relaying Information
How Shinagawa City provides residents with public information:
・ Public announcement and siren system (132 outdoor public speakers, 225 individual transmission receivers, etc.)
・ Shinagawa City website (English, Chinese, and Korean): www.city.shinagawa.tokyo.jp
Note: Clicking on one of the language options provided at the upper right on the top page automatically switches the website content to that language. After the automatic translation is done, you can obtain information on disaster preparedness in the language specified. In English, for example, you would click on the “For disaster and” link under the “Just in Case” section found on the right side of the page.
・ Emergency L-shaped news ticker on the cable TV Shinagawa City Community Channel (digital channel 11, digital-analog channel 5)
・ Telephone guide Shitteru-Kun (Tel: 3777-7500 Code No. 9999 [Emergency information from Shinagawa City])
・ Emergency radios (Applications for purchase through the Shinagawa City Office are now being accepted)
★Please take action without panicking based on reliable information, and cooperate with others.
Inquiries: Disaster Prevention Section, Tel: 5742-6695
