Proactive Preparation
Japan's strict building codes
In order to decrease the vibrations felt inside of a building during and earthquake, the buildings in Japan have to be able to sway with the quake.
Education of necessary actions
The Japanese government worked hard for decades to notify the people of necessary actions in the case of an emergent earthquake situation. The people were educated through news reports, schools, offices and other various ways. The majority of Japanese schools inform students about the emergencies and adapt various drills. There is a day in Japan called the "Disaster Prevention Day", which is in September 1st, where people gather together and discuss and think of new methods to quickly prepare themselves for the earthquakes.
Protection systems against direct harm
The Japanese government and people also carried out other methods of protection against disasters, such as setting up systems along the earthquake-frequent areas to help control the damage. For example, in 1990, the coastal communities built walls up to 40 feet for tsunami prevention.
Warning systems
There are many organizations that carry out emergency drills, and the broadcasting systems are programmed to alarm and warn the people in case of an earthquake or a tsunami. In 1952, Japan set up seismic activity sensors to monitor the movements of the surface and the crust, thus to quickly warn the people of any geologic activities that can cause damage.
In order to decrease the vibrations felt inside of a building during and earthquake, the buildings in Japan have to be able to sway with the quake.
Education of necessary actions
The Japanese government worked hard for decades to notify the people of necessary actions in the case of an emergent earthquake situation. The people were educated through news reports, schools, offices and other various ways. The majority of Japanese schools inform students about the emergencies and adapt various drills. There is a day in Japan called the "Disaster Prevention Day", which is in September 1st, where people gather together and discuss and think of new methods to quickly prepare themselves for the earthquakes.
Protection systems against direct harm
The Japanese government and people also carried out other methods of protection against disasters, such as setting up systems along the earthquake-frequent areas to help control the damage. For example, in 1990, the coastal communities built walls up to 40 feet for tsunami prevention.
Warning systems
There are many organizations that carry out emergency drills, and the broadcasting systems are programmed to alarm and warn the people in case of an earthquake or a tsunami. In 1952, Japan set up seismic activity sensors to monitor the movements of the surface and the crust, thus to quickly warn the people of any geologic activities that can cause damage.
Reactive response
Warning systems
The key life saving factor was the speed of the Japanese warning system. The initial warning was generated in just 3 minutes and the detailed warning in four minutes flat from the trigger event of the earthquake. The second great casualty mitigating factor was the design and construction of the Japanese buildings which withstood the shock of an almost 9.0 magnitude earthquake. Hence the proactive approach correctly focuses as “preparedness, prevention and mitigation”, rather than a reactive and knee-jerk response of relief and rescue operations alone as prevalent in India and other third world countries.
Evacuation
60,000 -- 70,000 city residents evacuated to shelters.
More than 83,000 people living within 3 miles of two power plants begin a government-ordered evacuation.
The key life saving factor was the speed of the Japanese warning system. The initial warning was generated in just 3 minutes and the detailed warning in four minutes flat from the trigger event of the earthquake. The second great casualty mitigating factor was the design and construction of the Japanese buildings which withstood the shock of an almost 9.0 magnitude earthquake. Hence the proactive approach correctly focuses as “preparedness, prevention and mitigation”, rather than a reactive and knee-jerk response of relief and rescue operations alone as prevalent in India and other third world countries.
Evacuation
60,000 -- 70,000 city residents evacuated to shelters.
More than 83,000 people living within 3 miles of two power plants begin a government-ordered evacuation.