Natural Disasters in Japan What happened in Ibaraki? Lessons learned from 2011.3.11 Emergency contact system What 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 Families back home Embassy CLAIR/BOE 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/kok uko/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/earthqu ake/ • 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!