Is a neighbor's nudge the key to evacuation?

Typhoon No. 14, 'Chanthu,' is heading our way.
Following yesterday, I'll write about disaster prevention again today.

When it comes to heavy rain disasters, it is often difficult to take that first step toward evacuation.

For heavy rain disasters that can be predicted to some extent, how can we create actions to protect our lives? We have been thinking about this by exchanging opinions among members and learning from teachers, such as through the disaster prevention community development initiatives I posted about yesterday. I'd like to introduce a little bit of that.

1. People cannot evacuate alone

No one can imagine themselves meeting with a disaster and losing their life.
Even I cannot imagine such a thing.
I think this is human nature.

For heavy rain that we know is coming to some extent, we tend to think, 'It will be fine this time too' or 'I'll be fine.'
We cannot make a judgment on our own. That's just how it is.

No matter how many emergency alert emails we receive or how many warnings are issued on the news, we don't feel like they are talking to us personally.

So, what should we do?

2. The trigger for action is a nudge from a neighbor!

Regarding disaster response, a nudge from a neighbor living nearby is the best.
This is because you are facing the same disaster threat and the same rain is falling on you.

Of course, contact from relatives and friends living in distant towns is also an important trigger, but in many areas where lives were saved, there are examples of lives being saved by neighbors reaching out to each other.

Neighbors are, so to speak, a community of destiny, or 'Gokinjo-san' (helpful neighbors).
We should greet each other daily, and when the time comes, we want to support, encourage, and help each other, don't we?

I'd also like to introduce a game I developed previously called the 'Neighbor Network.'
It's a trick you can use at food stalls or festivals too!

3. 'Evacuate to my place'

With the recent COVID-19 pandemic, evacuation to 'my evacuation site' other than public evacuation centers has become emphasized, hasn't it?

Just like fire drills at elementary school, having everyone line up and head to one single location is not appropriate for heavy rain disasters, is it?

I believe the essence of evacuation behavior is for each household to spend the disaster in the most optimal, safe place and 'avoid the danger.'

It seems many people are evacuating to the homes of relatives or friends, or to hotels, which are safer than their own homes. Of course, I think there are also many people who would rather stay in their own home than move.

In areas prone to flooding or near mountains, vertical evacuation to the second floor is also important. It would be great if you have a neighbor with a two-story house who can take you in.

Now, I have a question for everyone watching.

As shown in the illustration above, when evacuating to a neighbor's house, which do you think is easier to say and more effective: the person going saying, "Can I come over?" or the person welcoming them saying, "Come on over to my place!"?

It's hard to ask, "Can I come over?" because you don't want to be a bother or seem pushy. I believe that a community where the person welcoming others reaches out first is what saves lives.

This sense of consideration is something children also possess instinctively, so I created the following game.

4. Being a worrier saves lives!

When it comes to disasters, I think the more timid and anxious a person is, the better they can protect their life. It's not the cool, brave hero who stands their ground, but rather the worrier who is able to protect themselves, their family, and their neighbors.

The following is a "Worrier Hero" song, for which we created the lyrics and choreography together with professional musicians and dancers.

Please take a look and pay attention to the lyrics and the choreography!!

A typhoon is approaching.

Everyone, become a worrier hero and stay safe!!