Local Disaster Drills

This September 1st marked the 88th Anniversary of the Great Kanto Earthquake (1923)  and also starts the annual series of Disaster prevention drills around Tokyo.

Drill are normally held by local cities at sites that are marked as Emergency evacuation areas (normally schools).  For example this year (2011) the disaster drills in Minato-ku are;

http://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp/e/minato/mm101001/1010_03.html
Shinagawa-ku
http://www.merit5.co.jp/gyosei/shinagawa/1009/1009_07.html
Shibuya-ku
http://www.city.shibuya.tokyo.jp/eng/city_news/pdf/20100901pdf/p1.pdf

Information is normally posted in city magerzines/city offices.

Who goes to Disaster Drills?

Disaster Drill are open to everyone.   Howevers as its often a Sunday morning predominantly the people who go are either families with children or retired people -　although perhaps post 3/11 there will be many more attending this year.   There are normally volunter translator attending to help non-japanese speakers and some drills provide 1hr free childcare service to allow those with small children to get involved.  If you live in a large apartment building they may organize a drill in the building on the same day in which they will lead participants from the building to the main disaster drill event.

What goes on at the disaster drill?

From personal experiences at Minato-ku events the following are common features of a local disaster drill;

- Demostrations of (and chance to practice) First Aid
- Demonstration of use of  Fire Extinguishers, Stretcher making and putting out of pan fires
- Displays of Emergency Supplies and Facilities available in Emergency centres.
- Earthquake simulator van
- Smoke Tent(s)
- Emergency supplies shop
- Free 1hr childcare service
- Cooking of Emergency ration food (which is given out to attendees at the end of the event)
- Closing ceremony of fireservice demonstration the use of a water pump.