[Life Saving] Earthquake and Typhoon Preparedness | A Full Disaster Guide for Foreigners

1. Earthquake Preparation

At Home

• Secure furniture: bookshelves, TVs, and fridges should have anti-tip devices (a few hundred yen at home centers)
• Put shatter-resistant film on glass
• Place an emergency bag at the front door
• Review evacuation routes with family

When an Earthquake Strikes

1. Get under a desk or protect your head
2. Wait until shaking stops (1 to 3 minutes)
3. When it stops, shut off the gas valve and open the door to keep your escape route open
4. Put on shoes (avoid cuts from glass)
5. If there is a fire or injury, call 119
6. Never use elevators (you can be trapped)

Tsunami Risk

If you feel strong shaking near the coast, evacuate to high ground immediately. Do not wait for the warning. Use your own judgment.

2. Typhoon and Heavy Rain Prep

Before the Typhoon

• Check path and strength on weather forecasts
• Do not leave items outside windows (they can fly and damage neighbors)
• Move potted plants, laundry poles, and bicycles inside from the balcony
• Charge your phone and mobile battery in case of power outage
• Prepare water, food, flashlight, and batteries
• Do not park cars in low places (near rivers, underground lots)

During the Typhoon

• Never go outside
• Do not check gutters or the roof (fatal accidents happen every year)
• Do not go to see rivers, seas, or mountains
• Keep away from windows

3. Contents of the Emergency Bag

• Water (3 liters per person per day, for 3 days)
• Emergency food (cup noodles, hardtack, retort rice)
• Regular medicine (extras for chronic conditions)
• Flashlight and batteries
• Mobile battery
• Phone charging cable
• Wet wipes, toilet paper
• Bandages, disinfectant
• Warm clothes (winter), towel
• Cash (10,000 to 20,000 yen in case ATMs do not work)
• Copies of your Residence Card and Passport, and insurance card
• Emergency whistle

4. Must-Have Apps (all multilingual)

1. Safety tips (Official by JTA)

• iOS / Android free
• 14 languages (English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, etc.)
• Alerts for earthquakes, tsunamis, eruptions, and weather warnings
• Search “Safety tips” on the app store

2. NHK WORLD-JAPAN

• News and weather in English and more

3. Yahoo! Disaster Alert

• Alerts for earthquakes, heavy rain, and evacuation orders
• In Japanese, but fastest for real-time local alerts

4. Your Municipality App

• Tokyo: “Tokyo Bousai App” (multilingual)
• Osaka: “Osaka Bousai App”
• Other municipalities have their own apps

5. How to Check Evacuation Sites

Get a Hazard Map

Visit the Disaster Prevention desk at your city hall. You can get a hazard map (multilingual available) for free. It shows earthquake, tsunami, flood risk areas and evacuation sites.

Check Online

Hazard Map Portal Site (MLIT)

Things to Remember

• Temporary assembly area: a nearby park or school
• Shelter: a place to live during a disaster (gymnasium, school)
• Tsunami evacuation site: high ground or tall buildings

6. Life at a Shelter

• Shared life in a school gym or similar
• Water, food, and blankets are distributed
• Charging stations and Wi-Fi are often set up
• Foreigner support: multilingual notices and interpreter volunteers may come
• Always bring your Residence Card and Passport

7. Emergency Contacts

8. Earthquake Mindset: 3 Principles

1. Drop: lower yourself to the floor
2. Cover: protect your head under a desk
3. Hold on: do not move until shaking stops

Summary

For disaster info, check Japan Meteorological Agency or your municipality’s disaster site.