Warning Levels and What They Mean: Emergency Evacuation Information

In the event of an emergency or natural disaster (or when there is a high risk of an emergency/natural disaster), the City of Hiroshima will issue the appropriate evacuation orders depending on the level of risk. Having learned from the disaster caused by Typhoon 19 in 2019, the Basic Act on Disaster Control Measures was revised in 2021 (promulgated on 5/10, enacted on 5/20), and evacuation information has been amended with Evacuation Advisories and Evacuation Orders (Emergency) combined into one category. You can find more information about what to do for each warning level below.

New Warning Levels and What To Do For Each

Evacuation Advisory and Evacuation Order (Emergency) have been combined into one category

In order to make it clearer when residents should evacuate, Evacuation Advisory and Evacuation Order (Emergency) under Warning Level 4 have been combined. Evacuation Advisories have been discontinued, and in their place, Evacuation Orders will be issued.

From here forward, all residents should evacuate from hazard areas when Warning Level 4 Evacuation Orders are issued.

Ensuring your safety during Warning Level 5

Warning Level 5 (Disaster in progress; take IMMEDIATE action for your safety!) is information designated to promote seeking immediate safety in your own home or nearby buildings if you cannot safely evacuate to designated emergency evacuation shelters when disasters are currently in progress or just about to occur. Evacuating to a designated emergency evacuation shelter during Warning Level 5 is incredibly dangerous; make safe choices to protect yourself.

Note: Warning Level 5 may not always be announced.

Evacuation Examples

Those in landslide hazard areas

• Move to the upper level of the building you’re in and to a room away
  from the side nearest the cliff
• Move to a nearby sturdy building

Those in flooding, storm surge, or tsunami hazard areas

• Move to higher ground in the building you’re in that is less likely to take on water
• Move to a nearby building that is sturdier and taller than the one you are in

Warning Level 3 renamed Senior Citizens Evacuate Immediately

In order to make the target of early evacuation clearer, Warning Level 3 Prepare to Evacuate/Elderly Should Begin Evacuations has been changed to Senior Citizens Evacuate Immediately. Those who need more time to evacuate safely, such as senior citizens and those with disabilities, should evacuate from hazard areas during Warning Level 3 Senior Citizens Evacuate Immediately.

For those who would like to learn more about the criteria used by the City of Hiroshima in issuing emergency evacuation information, please see the following page:

• Criteria for Issuing Emergency Evacuation Information (Japanese)

Hazard Area Information 

The emergency evacuation information discussed above will be announced by elementary school district for areas which are at risk for disaster. For more information about hazard areas where you live, please see the following links.

• Various Hazard Maps for Hiroshima City (Japanese)
• Elementary School District Information (Japanese)
• Hiroshima City Emergency Evacuation Guide App (English)

Inquiries regarding this page

Disaster Prevention Division, Crisis Management Office
1-6-34 Kokutaiji-machi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima
Tel: 082-504-2664 // Fax: 082-504-2802
Email: saigaiyobo@city.hiroshima.lg.jp