6. Staying Prepared for Natural Disaster | Life in Hiroshima 2023

June to October is heavy rain and typhoon season in Japan and during this time, the rain and wind may cause damage beyond expectation, such as floods, landslides, and high tides. Moreover, Japan is the most earthquake-prone country in the world, so it is important that you stay prepared for natural disasters.

1) Preparing for heavy rain and typhoons

When heavy rains or a typhoon is approaching, be sure to stay prepared by following the instructions below:

1. Check beforehand where hazard areas and emergency evacuation shelters are using hazard maps, the City of Hiroshima Disaster Prevention Portal (http://www.bousai.city.hiroshima.lg.jp/＜外部リンク＞), etc.

   You do not need to evacuate if you are in a safe place.

   Download the smartphone app on page 33 (Go to the Evacuation Site! app) to get disaster information.

2. Regularly check weather forecasts (radio, TV, etc.).
3. Have things ready to take in case of an evacuation, such as food, water, regular medicines, and valuables (money, bank book and ATM card, passport, etc.). To help stop the spread of infectious diseases, make sure to also bring masks, disinfecting wipes, a thermometer, etc. As there may be power or gas outages, make sure you have enough food, water, and other essential supplies for at least three days, one week if possible, ready at home.
4. Have flashlights and a radio ready in case of a power outage.
5. Items such as flowerpots and laundry poles may be blown away. Keep them inside or secure them so they cannot move.
6. Actively participate in disaster emergency drills run by community organizations.

2) Disaster Warning Levels

Hiroshima City has 5 warning levels to let citizens know about the risk of a disaster and when they should evacuate. If Level 4 is announced, all people who live in disaster-prone areas or who feel they are in danger should evacuate immediately.

Note: Check Landslide and Flood Hazard Maps published by the City of Hiroshima to see if your home is at risk.

3) Preparing for earthquakes

We cannot predict when earthquakes will happen. Stay prepared beforehand by doing the following:

1. Secure your furniture so that it does not fall over.
2. Do not place anything near your stove that burns easily.
3. Discuss with your family or others that you are close with both where you will evacuate and how you will contact each other (such as 171 Disaster Emergency Dial).
4. Have things ready to take in case of an evacuation, such as food, water, regular medicines, and valuables (money, bank book and ATM card, passport, etc.). To help stop the spread of infectious diseases, make sure to also bring masks, disinfecting wipes, a thermometer, etc. As there may be power or gas outages, make sure you have enough food, water, and other essential supplies for at least three days, one week if possible, ready at home.
5. Be aware of any features of your local area that might affect you in a disaster. 
6. Check where evacuation sites are and how to get to them.
7. Actively participate in disaster emergency drills run by community organizations.

4) What to do if an earthquake occurs

When an earthquake occurs, stay calm and do the following:

1. Take shelter under a table.
2. Extinguish any flames (stoves, candles, etc.) after earthquake tremors have stopped.
3. Open doors to make sure you can leave.
4. If a fire has spread, quickly extinguish it.
5. Be careful of broken glass inside your home.
6. Do not run outside in a panic.
7. Stay away from front gates and walls.
8. Check on your neighbors.
9. Work together to help people.
10. Get accurate information from television or radio.

Useful Apps for Disaster Prevention

​Go to the Evacuation Site! is a free app that provides information on helpful evacuation measures to be taken before disasters strike. When emergency information, such as evacuation orders, etc., is announced, you can check how hazardous your current location is, as well as the best route to your closest emergency evacuation site. Available in 8 languages: English, Chinese (traditional and simplified), Korean, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, Filipino, and Vietnamese. 

Safety tips is a free app that sends you notifications when the following are issued: emergency earthquake alerts, tsunami warnings, volcanic eruption alerts, special weather warnings, and civil protection alerts. It has many features that are useful in disasters. It is available in 15 languages, including English, Chinese (traditional and simplified), Korean, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.

5) Evacuation Sites and Shelters

When local ward offices, the police, the fire department, community organizations, etc., make an announcement about evacuations, or if your home is in danger of collapse or fire, assess your situation and evacuate to a safe place if necessary. 

1. Designated Emergency Evacuation SitesSites for disaster victims to immediately evacuate to in dangerous situations. Evacuation sites differ according to the type of disaster. Disasters are categorized as landslides, floods, high tides, earthquakes, tsunamis, and large-scale fires. 
2. Designated Evacuation Shelters These facilities provide temporary lodging and shelter for people who have lost their homes. It is important that, before a disaster happens, you contact your local ward office , fire station , or other similar institutions to find out where these shelters are. Visit and inspect the routes to get to these evacuation shelters, so you know about the possible dangers along the way when evacuating.

You can search for public evacuation sites and disaster prevention information on the following sites:

・ Disaster Prevention Information Website (http://www.bousai.city.hiroshima.lg.jp/＜外部リンク＞)

・ Hiroshima Prefecture Disaster Prevention Web (http://www.bousai.pref.hiroshima.jp＜外部リンク＞)

You do not need to use public evacuation sites; talk to relatives and friends in advance about evacuating to their homes or other safe places.

6) When you evacuate:

1. Before evacuating, check again that all flames are extinguished (close main gas valves and turn off the electricity at the fuse box).
2. Take information with you, including the location of emergency evacuation sites and how to let your family/friends (etc.) know your whereabouts, etc. 
3. Take clothing that is easy to move in and something to protect your head.
4. Carry emergency items that you will need in a backpack.
5. If it is not safe to go to an evacuation site, evacuate to a higher floor in a tall, sturdy building instead.
6. Avoid narrow streets, areas near fences or walls, and riverbanks.

7) Medical and Emergency Cards for International Residents

Medical and Emergency Cards are useful during disasters and other emergencies for people who are not confident in their Japanese abilities. A blank copy of the card＜外部リンク＞ is available on page 56 of this guidebook for you to use. You can also download it from the City of Hiroshima website. For details, contact the Internationalization Division (Tel: 082-247-0127).