* For those interested, there are earthquake and flood hazard maps available in English at the Safe City Development Office on the 4th floor of the city hall.
Be prepared for a natural disaster:
- Prepare an emergency kit: A torch (flashlight), clothes, cash, bank books, important documents, health insurance certificates, a supply of drinking water and food, a first-aid kit, a portable radio, spare batteries, a towel, rain gear, tissue paper, etcetera.
- Check your surroundings: Check your house and any concrete walls，reinforce them if necessary. Place cylinders of liquefied petroleum gas safely against walls. Do not place heavy or fragile things (televisions, flower vases, etc.) on top of chests of drawers or shelves, etc., and secure cabinets or bookshelves so that they will not fall during an earthquake. Prepare a fire extinguisher or bucket in case of fire. After an earthquake, keep water in your bath tub.
- What to do if an earthquake occurs: Protect yourself by crawling under a table.Open the door so that you will later be able to escape outside. Turn off the gas supply and heating devices. Do not go outside unless absolutely necessary. Escape on foot. Check the safety of your area with your neighbours.
- Know the location of your emergency assembly point and more than two escape routes to it. Decide as a family where to meet in an emergency in case you get separated at the time of the earthquake.
In case of emergency:
- Prepare to evacuate if there are warnings of heavy rain in your surrounding area, even if an evacuation notice has not yet been issued.
- Be prepared to evacuate swiftly once an evacuation notice has been issued. The average walking speed at night or in rain is 1.5 to 2 kilometers an hour, but travelling with the elderly or children will take longer.
- Be aware that it may be hard to hear evacuation announcements from the city hall or fire station through shutters or the sound of a storm.
- Please take note of the following when evacuating:
- Evacuate with at least one other person. Do not evacuate alone.
- Be careful of ditches and drains
- Avoid roads along rivers and the base of mountains
- Evacuate on foot. Do not use your car.
- If for some reason you are unable to evacuate to a designated emergency assembly point, take emergency shelter in a nearby tall, strong building.
Remember: Do not panic. Stay calm.
