Community News
US Army in Japan community urged to review preparedness plans following major earthquake in southwestern Japan
U.S. Army Garrison Japan Public Affairs
August 16, 2024
(Japan Meteorological Agency)
CAMP ZAMA, Japan – U.S. Army in Japan community members are urged to review their emergency preparedness plans following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that hit southwestern Japan Aug. 8.
The Japan Meteorological Agency released a “Mega Earthquake Caution” after Thursday afternoon’s earthquake off the coast of Miyazaki Prefecture, warning that additional earthquake activity could occur in the Nankai Trough that runs along Japan’s Pacific coast.
The JMA warning serves as a somber reminder of the danger of earthquakes.
“We’re asking our community members to pause for a moment, to review their emergency response plans, and put a focus on preparation,” said Col. Marcus S. Hunter, U.S. Army Garrison Japan commander. “This is an important investment in time that can greatly reduce stress and keep our community safe.”
While the U.S. Army regularly tests its ability to react to emergencies, including natural-disaster-focused exercises, earthquake shake-out drills, and joint training with local Japanese officials, all residents also have a personal responsibility to be prepared.
Garrison emergency management officials, and the Ready Army website, offer the following information to help prepare for any contingency:
BE INFORMED
Many events can trigger emergency situations with the potential to escalate into disaster. Hazards can happen anywhere at any time, so you should become familiar with the spectrum of possible dangers and how you will be notified about them. While the potential threats can seem overwhelming, keep in mind that most of what you address in your family emergency plan or put in your emergency kits will be useful regardless of the hazard.
Here are some ways here to stay informed:
ALERT Mass Warning Notification System – The ALERT mass-warning notification system sends registered users emergency warnings and other critical information. Keep your information up to date. If you move to a new office or get a new personal cell number, make sure to go into ALERT and provide your current information. ALERT is effective in reaching community members with critical messages in real time, but its success depends on users’ input.: https://alert.csd.disa.mil.
USAG Japan Facebook Page – USAG Japan uses this Facebook page to provide information to the community and will use it during emergency situations: https://www.facebook.com/USAGJ.
Commander’s Access Channel – Free and available through normal TV service in all family housing, unaccompanied housing and office spaces with TV service. (See your channel guide for details, but the Commander’s Access Channel is available on the lower range of the channels.)
AFN Tokyo Radio (AM 810); AFN TV (see your channel guide); or the AFN GO app: https://afngo.net/.
BUILD A FAMILY EMERGENCY PLAN
Officials stress the importance of a written family emergency plan. Consider the range of potential emergencies and all the places you and your family might be. Knowing how to keep in touch and find one another will help your family stay safe and cope with the confusion and fear that come when emergencies strike.
Who: Gather input from all members of your family to consider all possibilities and make them more likely to remember important steps when an emergency happens. Choose a contact person, a family member or friend living somewhere else whom you can all contact in the case of an event.
What: Plan for all hazards that could affect your family, considering potential hazards and weather patterns in your region. Think through each possible emergency situation and determine how your family should respond.
Where: Think about all the places you and your family may be throughout the day, such as home, office, school and in transit. Establish meeting places and discuss situations to use them.
When: Because emergencies can happen at any time, make your family emergency plan immediately. Review the plan annually and whenever there are major changes in your family situation, schedule or activities.
Why: Emergencies are unpredictable and scary. By establishing and practicing a family emergency plan, you and your family are more likely to find each other quickly and help one another get through the emergency situation safely and with less worry.
Practice Your Plan: Making an emergency plan is just the first step; you should practice it at least twice yearly. Practice gathering your emergency kit and important documents, communicating with one another and meeting at a designated place. Afterwards, discuss the actions you took and how the plan would change in a different type of emergency.
BUILD AN EMERGENCY KIT
When disaster strikes, emergency responders address the most critical needs and may not be able to get to an area until it is deemed safe. While they work on behalf of the entire community, it is your responsibility to ensure your family’s well-being during times of crisis. Emergency kits are essential tools for meeting that challenge.
Here are some items to include:
At least one gallon of water per person, per day, for at least three days.
Nonperishable food for at least three days. Consider items that do not require cooking and will maintain freshness for several months, such as energy bars, freeze-dried foods and dehydrated foods.
Formula and diapers for any infants.
Food, water, other supplies and documents for any pets.
Manual can opener.
Flashlight, battery-powered weather radio, battery-powered cellphone charger, and extra batteries or hand-crank-powered devices.
First aid kit and prescription medications.
Sanitation supplies such as moist towelettes, disinfectant and garbage bags.
Important documents in watertight packaging — personal, financial and insurance. Store copies in a separate location.
Your family emergency plan, local maps and your command reporting information.
Five-gallon bucket with plastic bags for use as a portable toilet.
Dollars and yen in small denominations.
Passports.
Birth abroad certificate for children born overseas.
Card with local translations of basic Japanese terms.
Vehicle Emergency Kits. In addition to food and water, people should keep items such as a first aid kit, warning triangles, flares, rope, tarps, flashlights, comfortable shoes, rain gear, a compass, and basic toiletry items.
BUILD A ‘GO-BAG’
A “go-bag” should be considered a component of a home kit. The idea is to have items in a bag that you can grab and go that will sustain you for three days.
Although a go-bag should have some water in it, it is not practical for it to contain enough water for three days, so it is a good idea to include a personal water filtration system.
The bag should contain some food, a first aid kit, comfortable shoes, a battery-powered radio, weather-appropriate clothing, a flashlight, and your emergency family plan.
It can also be helpful for each child in a household to have their own go-bag.
DROP, COVER AND HOLD ON
(Protect yourself during an earthquake.)
In the case of an earthquake, community residents are urged to “Drop, Cover and Hold On.”
Drop: The first step is to drop immediately to one’s hands and knees for protection from being knocked down in the case of violent shaking.
Cover: The second step is to cover one’s head and neck with one’s arm and hand and, if possible, take shelter under a sturdy table or desk, or crawl next to an interior wall.
Hold on: The final step is to hold on until the shaking stops.
Remember: If you are indoors, watch for falling objects and stay away from windows and mirrors. If you are outside, avoid high buildings, walls, power poles, falling glass, power lines and tall trees. If you are in a vehicle, stop in the safest, open place available. Avoid elevated bridges, walkways or railways. Stay inside the vehicle.