WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF AN EARTHQUAKE

A) PREVENT THE START OF A FIRE

• Stop use of fire, once tremor is felt. Turn off stove burners, and also turn off appliances such as heaters (Sutôbu). (There are some devices that have an automatic sensor system in the event of earthquakes, it is very important to check out what they have at home).

• If there is a fire it is possible to put out the fire, but it is necessary to act calmly and with caution. Remain calm to think about how to act.

B) SECURE AN EMERGENCY EXIT

• Upon feeling the tremor, open doors, thus ensuring an emergency exit. (If you are in a building, it is important to look for the exits, because there is a risk that the building may collapse, which would prevent the doors from being opened with ease).

C) ENSURE SAFETY

• After putting out the fire, find an exit near you, get under a desk or table to protect yourself. If there is not a table nearby, protect your head with a pillow or a folded quilt “futon”.

D) DO NOT BE IN A HURRY TO LEAVE

• Do not rush to get outside without waiting until the tremor has totally passed and observe the condition of your surroundings. (You can be hit by a falling object, such as slabs, signs, tiles, or the like).

E) DO NOT GET CLOSE TO NARROW STREETS, WALLS, CLIFFS AND RIVERS

• If, at the beginning of the tremor you find yourself outside, look for places with large open areas. The best places are those in which there is no danger of falling. At places like gullies and river banks, there is a danger of subsidence and flood with the tremors, so go to other places as soon as possible.

F) IF YOU ARE DRIVING A CAR

• Stop the car in a vacant lot on your left, turn off the car and turn the radio on to hear about the disaster.

• When the police are doing traffic control, follow the received instructions.

• If you need to seek refuge, leave the car with the key inside the car and head toward the nearest shelter.

G) BEWARE OF “TSUNAMI”

• If a very strong earthquake occurs (intensity above “Shindo” 4) or a weak tremor, but one that lasts a long time, move away from the coast as quickly as possible, taking shelter in high places.

• If there is no place high enough, take shelter in a building or in some high tower “Tetto” built in some places near the coast, when somewhere near the beach, you have to know where to take cover if something happens.

H) BE CAREFUL OF FALLING BUILDINGS