Mie Prefectural Government carried out a training on natural disasters for foreign citizens. In this training the participants have received information on the type of warnings as well as the procedures to be followed when they are issued.

The training has been translated into 6 languages in order for everyone to understand this important content.

Initially, the multicultural affairs division spoke about the importance to understand Japan is a country prone to earthquakes and tsunami, and the training has been carried out to transmit the right information to foreign citizens.

The representative of Natural Disaster Management and Prevention sector from Tsu, Mr. Takayama Hiroki, spoke about the different types of warnings we see on TV and other mass media.

Do you know the meaning of “Kinkyu Jishin Sokuhou“? It is a warning that can be transmitted when there is a risk of occur a strong earthquake.

The earthquakes may occur within minutes. Stay under a table or try to protect yourself in some way.

When there is some danger related to tsunami or flooding, for example, warnings to look for shelter are issued, divided into:

• Hinan Jyunbi Jouhou– warning to people to prepare for evacuation. Those who take more time for evacuation (wheelchair users, elderly, children, etc) should start the evacuation process soon.
• Hinan Kankou– a warning issued to people residing in locations under some risk. As soon as be ready, these people should start the evacuation process.
• Hinan Shiji– this warning is issued to regions under great risk of damage. People residing in locations where this warning is issued should search for safe shelters immediately.
• Tokubetsu Keihou– warning issued when there is extreme risk of damage with intensity that has never been registered before.

The participants, after getting detailed information about the correct procedures regarding each one of these warnings, received orientation and carried out a cardiopulmonary resuscitation training using an AED (automated external defibrillator).

These procedures are very important because knowing them you can save the life of your family.

[Interview ① natural disaster management and prevention division of Tsu, Mr. Takayama Hiroki]

“Japan is one of the countries most affected by earthquakes in the world, therefore I recommend everyone to verify where the closest shelter is located, as well as prepare an emergency kit.

After Kinkyu Jishin Sokuhou” is issued, in a matter of seconds the earthquake will occur, therefore assure your safe protecting yourself, at least your head.”

The participants also received information regarding message alert system of Tsu city. Information on evacuation is sent by Tsu city.

[Interview ② natural disaster management and prevention division of Tsu, Mr. Takayama Hiroki]

“We ask everyone to search for shelter as soon as possible after receiving the information related to evacuation from Tsu city.”

At the end of the training, participants could ask questions on what has been learned and gave their opinion about the content. Participants received important information that can be essential in the event of a natural disaster.

[Interview ③ – Sonia Momi (Indian)]

“Today’s training was very useful, since in my country I’ve never experienced a tsunami. There are earthquakes but they are little, so, living in Japan I should know these things because life is most important for everyone, so today’s training was very, how can I say, effective for me and now I can save my life as well the life of other people. It was very useful for me.”

[Interview ④ Luis Risco (Peruvian)]

“The city hall will send notices in the case of a natural disaster (typhoon, earthquake) through electronic messages on the smartphone (cell phones), and it is very important. There are warnings on TV or other mass media, but most of foreigners don’t understand Japanese, and through the cell phone we can receive information in various languages, and it is the most important.”

[Interview ⑤ – Hashimoto Jyobi (Filipina)]

“Everything we have learned today was very important. For example, for those who live in mountainous areas and do not have TV access, as well as those that have no cell phone, if there is a way this kind of information reach them they can be prepared. In mountainous areas there is the risk of landslide, but if there is access to evacuation information, people have time to evacuate, therefore I think these information are very important.

My house is close to a river and if I don’t have access to this information I won’t know when the river will overflow, that’s why the notice will help me a lot.

The training using the automated defibrillator to save lives, what I have learned will be very useful.”

[Interview ⑥ – Leonice Tanaca (Brazilian)]

“Today the content has been explained in various languages, about each type of warning, when we have to be prepared to evacuate. There are a several warnings and we don’t know the meaning of each one and today was possible to understand well about this matter, that each one of the warnings has its own meaning. The first one is to be on alert, and we have learned the right moment to evacuate. We should leave our houses only in the right type of warning, because we (foreigners) leave our houses in any type of warning that is issued , and it is wrong, because if you leave in the wrong warning you can be at risk. For many times we see on social media people asking, what was that warning issue? what is happening ? And today we have learned the correct meaning of the warnings.”

Trainings like this, that offer information and translation in various languages, do not happen frequently. Mie Prefectural Government held this training for foreign citizens in order to everyone learn more about the correct procedures in the case of a natural disaster.

[ Interview ⑦ – multicultural affairs division, Mr. Tsuya Akio]

“There are many foreign citizens living in Mie Prefecture. And these foreigners must protect their own life, as well as the lives of their family and friends when an earthquake, tsunami or typhoon occurs. This was the reason we carried out this training.”