Reflecting on Disaster Prevention Day: The Importance of Daily Food Stockpiling
Good evening. Today, September 1st, is Disaster Prevention Day.
Here in Osaka, where I live, mobile phone alarms went off in unison at 1:33 PM. I was in the office at the time, so I just thought, 'Oh, it's starting,' and kept working. However, when Disaster Prevention Day comes around, it reminds me of my experience as a disaster victim when I lived in Southeast Asia, where heavy rain and flooding prevented me from going shopping for two full days, and I became anxious about running out of food. In this article, I would like to remind myself—and you—of how important it is to secure food on a daily basis for emergencies.
(Disaster Experience 1) Items disappeared from supermarkets and convenience stores
I regret not taking photos back when I lived in Southeast Asia, but food disappeared to such an extent that I was actually impressed that things could really vanish from store shelves. There was nothing to buy, not even canned goods or snacks...
I thought about taking a taxi to a shopping mall, but since it was overseas and different from Japan, I feared that if I went out into the heavy rain and rising water, I might not be able to return due to traffic jams.
(Disaster Experience 2) I survived on water, snacks, rice, juice, and cup noodles that I had stockpiled
I had stored the aforementioned food in my room in case of an emergency, and it proved useful during this crisis. Thanks to this preparation, I didn't have to risk going out to buy supplies.
Fortunately, the electricity was still working, so I cooked rice in a rice cooker and ate it in a bowl; I still cannot forget the taste of that rice.
I also ate inexpensive Korean-made cup noodles, which are commonly sold in Southeast Asia.
(Disaster Experience 3) Why do fires start during heavy rain!?
I still don't know the reason, but amidst the unceasing rain, I could see smoke rising in the distance and heard the piercing sirens of fire trucks. Since residential and commercial buildings are densely packed and the safety of electrical equipment and lifelines is not guaranteed, I suspect that the heavy rain caused fires. I imagine there were people who were left homeless with nowhere to go.
Unfortunately, as a foreigner, I had no way to help.
Everyone has their own disaster awareness and experiences... how can we put them to use?
Needless to say, things become chaotic after a major disaster, so I believe the right move is to go where there are few people. This is because there are inconvenient truths that were not openly reported during the Great Hanshin Earthquake or the Great East Japan Earthquake, such as the risk of robbery, food competition, and poor hygiene.
Wear a helmet and go to places that are not crowded.
Think of several routes for walking home from work, and keep water and food at the office.
Think about where to escape to if a tsunami comes while you are around Osaka Station.
If it's just thinking, you could even do that while drinking coffee at Starbucks, right?
I also think it is important to further enhance my stockpile, so I plan to go get water and beverages this weekend. The reason I was fine when I encountered heavy rain and typhoons in Southeast Asia was because I was prepared. By doubling or tripling these preparations, I will prepare for a major disaster.
It has been 100 years since the Great Kanto Earthquake. Although technological innovation in seismic resistance has improved dramatically compared to that time, aren't the risks of infrastructure destruction and fire actually higher now than they were 100 years ago?
I lived in Tokyo when I was a student, but I think leaving Tokyo is also a valid decision.
I remember watching the Great Hanshin Earthquake on TV and fearing that it would be a disaster if the same thing happened in Tokyo... I am now re-watching the TV footage from that time with a new perspective.
(End)