Are you visiting Japan? Be prepared. 防災訓練

今年3月20日の地震は揺れが長くて怖かったです。東北では新幹線が脱線したほどですね。今回は日本でなじみの「防災（ぼうさい）訓練」とみなさんへのアドバイスについて話します。

There was a big earthquake on 20th March 2022. I was scared because the shake was much longer than usual. The Shinkansen in Tohoku went off  the rail. I’d like to share our traditional ‘bosai-kunren (disaster prevention/preparedness)’ and some advice for you.

皆さんは「防災訓練」をしたことがありますか。日本ではいつも台風（たいふう）、津波（つなみ）、洪水（こうずい）、地震（じしん）などがあるので、その被害をできるだけ防ぐために「防災訓練」をします。9月1日は「防災の日」で毎年学校や会社などで「防災訓練」をします。

Have you attended ‘bosai-kunren’? We have this training in order to minimise the damage from unstoppable typhoon, tsunami, flood and earthquake in Japan. 1^st September is ‘Bosai Day’ and we have this training at schools and offices every year.

避難（ひなん）警報がでたら、すぐ近くの避難場所に避難できるように「防災バッグ」も置いておきます。水、缶詰め食品、トーチ、ラジオ、くすりなどを入れておきます。

We have ‘bosai bag’ at home to be able to evacuate to an evacuation site in the area whenever you hear evacuation alert. Normally, water bottles, tin food, torch, radio and medications are in it.

災害が起きるとよく水、電気、インターネットなどが使えなくなります。スマホが使えなくなったときのために、家族とどこで会うか決めておきます。また、家の中のものが落ちないように家具や家具の扉にストッパーを付けて落ちて壊れるものを少なくします。

Water, electricity and internet will not be available at a natural disaster. And we have a meeting point with our family in case you cannot use the mobile phone. You can also use furniture and the door holders/stoppers to prevent things from moving and falling.

日本にいるときに自然災害が起きてもパニックにならないように、「防災バッグ」を用意したり、近くの避難場所を調べておいたりするといいですね。

It is a good idea to have a ‘bosai bag’ and check the evacuation site nearby in order not to get panicked if you experience a natural disaster in Japan.

WaNaviのベスさんは11年前の経験についてこのように言っています。

Beth from WaNavi explained her experience 11 years ago in Japan as below.

‘I experienced the 3.11 Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent disaster as a new mother in 2011. As a British Australian I had no experience with earthquakes prior to coming to Japan and definitely no experience with disasters. I immediately took cover in a doorway with my baby, but once the initial shaking had stopped, I realised I had no idea what to do. WaNavi Japan was created by Japanese and International women to empower international residents with earthquake literacy to live comfortably and confidently in Japan. ‘　Beth Yokohara

この組織では日本の災害に慣れていない人たちに防災の仕方を中心にいろいろなワークショップなどをしています。よかったら、こちらのリンクを見てみてください。www.wanavi.org

This association mainly provides a wide range of ‘bosai’ workshops and learning opportunities for those who are not familiar with natural disaster in Japan. This link might be useful for you.

日本に来る皆さんができるだけ安全に過ごせることを心から願っています。

What I hope is that every single person who come to Japan can stay safe.