After relocation to Japan, we found that Japan has a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan and infrastructure. For instance, the Meguro Ward where we lived last time has its disaster announcement app to broadcast if there are any disaster warnings or information updates like the opening/close of evacuation centres, which is very convenient. As a result, we began to consider preparing a disaster kit at home. The following article is some notes I made about preparing a disaster kit.
After a disaster, there may be a period of interrupted supplies (such as water, electricity, food, natural gas, etc.), and there may also be an immediate need to go to evacuation centres. If an emergency kit is prepared, it can be useful and increase the chances of survival in emergencies (including remaining healthy).
Considering that it is very likely to get separated during the evacuation, it would be great for each person to have his/her customised emergency kit since not everyone is as powerful as Hercules to carry everything. Prioritisation is crucial! For example, water is extremely important so everyone should carry some but I put a little more water in the bag of stronger family members. Lastly, don’t forget the special needs of your family members like elderly people, babies, or pets.
Food, medication, batteries, and other items in the emergency kit may expire or become ineffective, so it is necessary to regularly check and replace these items. This part can be easily done by using calendar reminder tools when preparing or updating the kit.
The emergency kit should be placed that is easy to access, while also staying away from potentially dangerous places, such as near flammable materials, next to glass windows, etc. For me, I choose to put the kits inside the cabinet near the entrance.
Regular training and drills should be conducted among family members, including earthquake evacuation, first aid procedures, escape routes, and evacuation locations, etc., to ensure that everyone knows how to respond to emergencies. In emergencies, it may not be possible to use phones or the internet, so it is important to prearrange contact methods among family members, such as text messages, walkie-talkies, etc. Keeping calm and rational in emergencies is very important, so make sure that family members know how to respond and follow safety instructions.
Below is the list you can consider to prepare in your emergency kit. Again, the individual carrying capacity and needs should be properly considered.
If there are elderly people, babies, pets, or individuals with special needs at home, it is necessary to consider additional special food and supplies for them. The following is a list of some things to consider bringing.
The easiest way is to search for “emergency kit” or “防災セット” (Japanese) on e-commerce websites like Amazon Japan. Some sets are supervised by experts which can be ordered directly according to your needs. However, to be honest, buying a complete set directly is usually more expensive. So if you are sure what items you want to prepare, I highly recommend going directly to stores like Daiso, Decathlon, or camping and athletic stores to buy the items you need separately.
In Japan, I highly recommend going to Daiso to prepare your emergency kits. Daiso stores usually have a disaster prevention area with a wide range of products that are cheap and useful. And even if you are not clear what to prepare, you can go to the stores and learn about it. Decathlon is a good place to buy cheap bags or small items like headlights. Camping and athletic stores (especially in Japan) sell many delicious instant foods. By the way, it’s easy to buy food in Japan with a shelf life of five years, but I think as long as you regularly update them, you don’t have to worry too much about expiry dates. After all, normal bottled water is cheaper than bottled water which can keep for 5 years long.
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