Things to keep in mind when an earthquake occurs in the Tokyo metropolitan area

When a major earthquake occurs, the basic idea is to protect yourself and not to start moving unnecessarily . Your first priority should be to stay in a safe place .

Ensuring personal safety

In the event of a major earthquake, ensure your safety by staying under a desk, etc.

If you are outside, protect your head with a bag to protect yourself from falling objects, and evacuate to a safe place such as an open space.

If you are driving, safely stop your vehicle on the left side of the road.

Get accurate information

Once the earthquake subsides, stay calm and use radio, television, cell phones, and other means to obtain accurate information.

Don't go near the station

When a disaster occurs, the area around stations where transportation is suspended is particularly crowded with people. Stay away from them to avoid confusion.

Confirming the safety of family members

When a disaster occurs, it is very difficult to connect by phone. If you want to check on your family's safety, try to contact each other by means other than phone calls (such as message services).

Do not move unnecessarily

If a major earthquake occurs and many people start moving unnecessarily, a situation may arise in which lives that could otherwise be saved cannot be saved.

When a major earthquake occurs, fire trucks and ambulances are constantly running around to carry out rescue and emergency operations. If too many people move around unnecessarily, the roads will be filled with people, hindering the operations of fire trucks and ambulances. In addition, many dangers can be expected on roads, such as objects falling due to aftershocks and fires. Furthermore, if many people start moving around unnecessarily, sidewalks will become overcrowded, making it difficult to walk, and areas around stations will become overcrowded, making it more likely that group falls will occur.

In other words, if a large number of people move unnecessarily, ``everyone is in danger'' and there is a possibility that ``lives that could be saved may not be able to be saved .''

stay in a safe place

For at least three days after the earthquake, rescue and emergency operations will be prioritized, and chaos will continue for a while. It is extremely dangerous to start moving without sufficient information. First, consider staying in a safe place, such as a temporary accommodation facility near your workplace or school. Please follow instructions and guidance from stations and facilities.

It is also important to help your neighbors while staying in a safe place. Participate as much as possible.

Return home “safely”, “on your own”, and “on foot”

The basics of returning home are ``safely,'' ``on your own,'' and ``walking.'' After staying in a safe place for a while, you can use various methods to gather information about your return journey, and once you have confirmed that you can return ``safely'', you can begin your journey home.

There is a high possibility that you will not be able to take a taxi or bus. Make sufficient preparations to return home on your own or on foot. Stores with stickers that say "Disaster Return Support Station" provide tap water, restrooms, information, and places to rest. You need to not be overconfident in your own physical strength and take a break once in a while.