Earthquake Response Manual For Students

In the event of an earthquake that causes damage to buildings or severe damage to transportation (indicated by a seismic intensity of over 5 lower on the Japanese scale), please refer to this guide and remain calm before acting, always remembering to keep yourself safe.

It is also possible to see this manual on a cell phone. Please download in advance to prepare for an emergency.

Everyday Preparation

It is impossible to prevent big earthquakes, but you can reduce potential damage through adequate preparation. It is important for everyone to think about preparation on a daily basis.

Check the location of evacuation centers (near the university and your home).
Confirm in advance how to contact your family and where to meet.
Register with and know how to use disaster voice-mail services.
Check alternative routes to your home and the times required to walk. (Plan on 2.5 km/h in time of disaster)
Fill out emergency information and keep current.
Learn specific ways of obtaining information.
Brace furniture to prevent it from falling and prepare emergency items.
Create a contact information list that includes the university and friends.

Emergency Evacuation Items

Useful Items to Carry Regularly

Cash (including coins)
Health Insurance Certificate
Towel, Bandages, Gauze
Pocket Light
Pocket Radio
Tissue, Wet Wipes
Emergency Thermal Blanket
Chocolates & Candies
Personal Identification (i.e. Driver’s License)
Address Book (Enter contact information for family and friends.)
Rainwear (i.e. Poncho)
Portable Charger USB Cable
Polyethylene Garbage Bag
Permanent Marker

Other Items Necessary in an Emergency

Bank Book
Medication and Prescriptions
Running Shoes
Portable Gas Burner
String, Rope
Extra Batteries
Slippers
Disposable Pocket Warmers
Personal Stamp
Jacket, Underwear, and Socks
Backpack
Flashlight
Candles
Can Opener, Corkscrew
Toiletries
Emergency Food & Water

If there is a Disaster

Gather Accurate Information

Move away from things that fall over easily and watch out for falling objects.
Don’t move unnecessarily and confirm safety.
Open emergency exits and doors and maintain the evacuation exit.
Evacuate on foot, taking as few personal effects as you can.
If you are handling fire, move away from the flame. Once the shaking has stopped, remain calm and proceed to extinguish the fire.
Evacuate using the stairs, not the elevators.
(In the event of an earthquake, the University’s elevators are programmed to stop automatically.)
Try to obtain accurate information and avoid doing things alone when possible.
Work together to provide first-aid to injured persons and extinguish fires.
Confirm that family members are safe and notify the University of your own safety.

How to contact your family in Japan

This is a service that is provided when a major disaster, such as an earthquake, has happened and it is difficult to connect because of the drastic increase in calls as people try to check on others’ safety.

NTT Disaster Message Board on the Internet

Post Message

Go to https://www.web171.jp/（web171）
Enter the phone number you would like to post. *Enter only numbers, no “-”.
Enter “name”, “situation” and “message” and click “Post”.

Read Message

Go to https://www.web171.jp/（web171）
Enter the phone number you would like to read. *Enter only numbers, no “-”.
Click “Read”.

NTT Disaster Message Dial on the Telephone

This service is only offered for landlines within the affected area. When recording or retrieving a message from a landline within the affected area, the call can be made from a cell phone. There may be cases where recording from outside the affected area to a landline within the affected area is regulated (Retrieval is possible.)

Record Message

Call 171 and listen to the guidance.
Dial “1”
Enter the telephone number (landline) of the person in the disaster-stricken area

Retrieve Message

Call 171 and listen to the guidance.
Dial “2”
Enter the telephone number (landline) of the person in the disaster-stricken area

Please see the NTT website for a detailed overwiew of the service and usage instructions.
For services provided by the other companies, visit respective webpages.

Personal Experience Trial

In order to prepare for a disaster by memorizing this process beforehand, a personal experience trial day has been set.

Trial Dates

1st & 15th of Every Month (0:00 – 24:00) January 1st, 2nd & 3rd (Jan. 1st, 0:00 – Jan. 3rd, 24:00)
Disaster Preparedness Week (Aug. 30th, 9:00 – Sept. 5th, 17:00)
Disaster Preparedness & Volunteer Week (Jan. 15th, 9:00 – Jan. 21st, 17:00)

Notify the University of Safety

Once things have settled, notify the University that you are safe.

Try not to contact us via phone.

Contact via Internet

Access the following URL, and inform the university of your situation.
URL: https://emergency-notice.waseda.jp/

Contact via post card

Write “Report of Status”, name, student number, personal and family status, address, problems, status of home or evacuation site, etc., and send to the following address.

Office of the (Graduate) School of ( ), Waseda University 1-6-1 Nishi-Waseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-8050

Follow the instructions provided by the office of each undergraduate and graduate school.

Immediately after an earthquake

Protect yourself !

◆Point [when at the University]

–	Move away from windows and shelves where the glass may shatter or the contents might jump out.
–	Either crawl under a desk or cover your head with a bag or a piece of clothing to protect your head, arms and legs from falling objects.
–	If possible, persons near doors should open the door and secure the exit.
–	When handling fire, such as during an experiment, make your own safety your top priority and step away from the fire for the moment. Similarly, when using chemicals, step away from the chemicals for the moment.
–	When you are in a place where there are no falling objects, such as a courtyard or sports field, sit down and wait for the shaking to stop.

◆Point [on the way to the University]

–	Carefully check conditions and give first priority to your safety.
–	Stay away from electrical poles and vending machines, and watch out for falling objects.

When the shaking stops

Are you safe where you are?
YES – Do not move from a safe area.
NO – Go to the nearest evacuation site.

◆Point [when at the University]

[Personal preparedness]

–	Remain calm and maintain composure.
–	When using fire, put out the flame without panicking.
–	Is there a fire? If there is a fire, extinguish the fire with the help of others while maintaining a safe distance. If you determine that it will be difficult to extinguish the fire, move away from the fire.
–	Is anyone injured? If someone is injured, provide first-aid with the help of others while maintaining a safe distance, and notify the administration office.
–	Check building slants and cracks in the walls.
–	In case of aftershock, observe the situation for a while without panicking.

[How to determine when to go to the evacuation site]

–	If you can confirm that there is no danger of glass, the blackboard, or televisions, etc. falling over, nothing is falling from the ceiling and there are no chemical leaks, it is safer to stay where you are.

[Items of caution when moving]

–	In case of fire, cover your mouth with a towel or something similar to avoid inhaling smoke.
–	Confirm which route is the safest and proceed using stairs, not elevators.

◆Point [on the way to the University]

–	Get an accurate perspective of the damage.
–	Although you may wish to move to the evacuation site arranged by your family in advance, safety may dictate that you choose another evacuation site.
–	Follow instructions given by the police and fire department.

When things calm down 1

The University has designated the following locations as evacuation sites in advance, but depending on the conditions at the time of the earthquake, take shelter in a safe place.

[Waseda Campus]
Waseda Campus

[Toyama Campus]
Toyama Park

[Nishi-Waseda Campus]
Nishi-Waseda Campus Courtyard

[Tokorozawa/Higashifushimi/ Kikui-cho Campus]
Each Sports Field

[Kagami Memorial Research Institute for Materials Science and Technology]
Main Entrance

[Honjo Campus]
Open Space in front of Buildings No. 93 & 94, Honjo Senior High School Sports Field

[TWIns]
Open Space on the North Side of the Tokyo Women’s Medical University Comprehensive Outpatient gate

◆Contact your family to let them know you are safe.
How to contact your family in Japan

When things calm down 2

Can you walk home?
YES – Go home.
NO – Go to the nearest evacuation site.

◆Point [when at the University]
Remain at the University until it can be confirmed that it is safe to go

–	As a general rule, do not try to go home unreasonably but rather, remain at the University and/or evacuation sites until the aftershock has subsided and it has been confirmed that it is safe to go home.
–	A safe distance to walk home if you are in the middle of your commute is set at within 10 km. You should confirm the distance between your home and the University and what route you take beforehand.
–	When trying to gather information, do not be confused by chain mails or rumors. Instead obtain accurate information from the University, public agencies, television, or the radio.

◆Point [on the way to the University]

–	If everyone rushes home at the same time, there will be traffic jams everywhere. It is important to remain calm. Ensure your safety first, and then make your way home.
–	Walking speed during disasters is approx. 2.5 km/h. It takes 4 hours to walk 10 km
–	It is dangerous to move around after sunset. Do not go out alone at night to protect yourself from potential injury or crime.

◆Estimate time of sunrise and sunset