Natural Disasters in JapanWhat happened in Ibaraki?Lessons learned from 2011.3.11 Emergency contact systemWhat to do in the event of a natural disaster?Be ready!

Japanese Seismic Intensity Scale• Measured in units of

Shindo震度 (degree of shaking).

• This scale describes the degree of shaking at a point on the Earth's surface.

• The Moment Magnitude Scale is based on the seismic moment of the earthquake.

• Since 1995, levels 5 and 6 are divided in two, giving a total of 10 levels of earthquake: 0–4, weak/strong 5 （５弱、５強） , weak/strong 6 （６弱、６強） and 7.

2011.3.11 14:46, Ibaraki Prefecture•14:46: Earthquake, magnitude 7 in Sanriku

Offshore (Sendai)•14:46: Magnitude felt in Mito and northern

part of Ibaraki: 6 weak( 弱 ) and 6 strong ( 強）

•Large aftershock at 15:15 : 6 strong( 強）•March 14th and March 19th : 5 weak ( 弱 )

aftershocks•More than 1000 aftershocks since the

earthquake

Joban Highway 　常磐高速道路

Mito Station 水戸駅

Prefectural Office 県庁

Tsunami and nuclear accident in Fukushima Prefecture （福島県）

• The tsunami inundated a total area of approximately 561 km2 (217 sq mi) in Japan.

• It took between 10 and 30 minutes from the initial shock for waves to reach the coast.

• Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima Prefectures had several towns partially or totally destroyed.

• In Ibaraki Prefecture, the tsunami caused damage in Kita-Ibaraki, Hitachi,Oarai, Kashima and Kamisu.

Kita-Ibaraki 　北茨城

Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster ( 福島第一原子力発電所事故 )

• The tsunami broke the reactors' connection to the power grid and also resulted in flooding of the rooms containing the emergency generators.

• Consequently those generators ceased working, causing eventual power loss to the pumps that circulate coolant water in the reactor.

• The pumps then stopped working, causing the reactors to overheat due to the high decay heat that normally continues for a short time, even after a nuclear reactor shut down. The flooding and earthquake damage hindered external assistance.

• In the hours and days that followed, Reactors 1, 2 and 3 experienced full meltdown.

Lessons learned from 3.11•Improve our emergency contact system

•Have a strong block system (JETs should never stay alone)

•Phone / Internet

•Be prepared is essential

•Knowing useful Japanese words is very important

Emergency Contact System in Ibaraki

JETs Block Leaders PA

CLAIR/BOEEmbassyFamilies

back home

When a natural disaster occurs…•If the earthquake is strong (5 strong, ５

強） please send a message to the PA and your block leader directly.

•Example; “We had a big earthquake/ tornado in Bando. I’m fine. I’m at school/ with friends/ by myself”

•If you can’t call or send a message, try to use the internet.

Post information about yourself and the others (only if you’re 100% sure) on the Ibaraki JETs Facebook page :

What if I can’t use the phone and internet?

•If you’re living close to another JET try to get to him/her and stay together.

•If you can’t contact anyone and are living far from other JETs please stay at school as long as possible.

•If you decide to go home, try to talk to your neighbor and /or got to the closest evacuation center. (you may find other ALTs from your town there).

Major natural disasters in Ibaraki

•Earthquakes (major one in 2011) •Tsunami (major one in 2011)

•Typhoons (every year in Japan)

•Tornadoes (last year and the year before in Tsukuba – Shimotsuma –Toride area)

•Nuclear Accidents (1999 in Ibaraki and 2011, in Fukushima Prefecture).

Few rules to remember: p.46 - 49

•Go to a safe place

•Take your gateway kit

•Try to get information (ask your coworkers)

•Never stay alone

•Be aware of potential aftershocks and tsunami/landslide

How to be prepared?• Determine the location of evacuation centers in your area.

•Prepare a getaway kit as soon as possible.

•Don’t stack heavy items on the top shelves in your home.

•Join a disaster drill in your prefecture (Nov. 10th)

Gataway Kit (p.49)

How to understand the situation? •Television

•Radio

•Japanese Key Words

•Evacuation messages

•Efficient information

Video

Radio

Useful Expressions and words 　 I•地震 じしん Jishin Earthquake •津波 つなみ Tsunami•台風 たいふう Taifu Typhoon•竜巻 たつまき Tatsumaki Tornado•地滑り じすべり Jisuberi Landslide•避難してください。 Hinan shite kudasai. 　 Please Evacuate. •早く高台に避難して下さい。 Hayaku Takadai

ni hinan shite kudasai. Please evacuate to higher ground.

Useful expressions and words II•ハンドルをしっかり握ってください。Handoru wo shikkari nigitte kudasai.Hold the handle firmly.

•ハザードランプをつけてください。Hazarudo ramp wo tsukete kudasai.Turn on the hazard lights.

•ゆっくりスピードを落としてください。Yukkuri Speedo wo otoshitekudasai.Slowly reduce the speed.

三角表示板　 Sankaku hyojiban

When can I get accurate information?

•Your embassy

•Prefectural Homepage: http://www.pref.ibaraki.jp/bukyoku/seikan/kokuko/en/

•BBC / NKH World / Kyodo News Agency

•NPR website: http://www.npr.org/series/134592647/explainers-inside-japans-nuclear-crisis

Where can I get accurate information?• Yahoo Japan ( 天気 weather) for

earthquakes: http://typhoon.yahoo.co.jp/weather/jp/earthquake/

•When you find information about the nuclear crisis in Japan, always double check it.

•Attention grabbing information isn’t necessarily accurate information.

Applications for i-phone

Last advice•Don’t panic.

•Watch people around you and follow the instructions of your school / JTE.

•Try to calm the students down at school .

•Try to see if you can help your neighbor / other JETs.

•Volunteer if you can!