It looks like a training broadcast for Earthquake Early Warning will be played over disaster prevention speakers and emergency alert radios at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, 6/17.
(We mistakenly wrote Wednesday, June 18. We apologize<m(__)m>)
A ShakeOut drill will also be held.
【June 17】ShakeOut Drill to Be Held｜Nishinomiya City Website
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What is a ShakeOut drill?
There was one around the same time last year too. We wrote an article about it as well.
Just in case, we’ll explain what a ShakeOut drill is.
(The following is mostly copied from last year’s article)
A ShakeOut drill means taking three actions to protect yourself from earthquake shaking.
1. Crouch down (DROP in English)
First, crouch down.
2. Protect your head and take cover (COVER in English)
3. Stay where you are (HOLD ON in English)
It’s about preparing your actions.
An earthquake disaster-prevention drill that began in the United States
ShakeOut is an earthquake disaster-prevention drill that apparently started in the United States in 2008.
Amazingly, it seems that Nishinomiya City was the first in Kansai to introduce ShakeOut drills. (Started on January 27, 2013).
By the way, “ShakeOut” is apparently a coined term meaning “shake off the earthquake.”
Overview of the 6/17 (Wed.) drill
It will be held as a drill in preparation for a massive Nankai Trough earthquake.
Purpose of the Drill
“Let’s think and act for ourselves about how to evacuate in order to protect our lives!”Date and Time
Wednesday, June 17, 2020, 10:00 a.m.Information Delivery
Step (1) 10:00 a.m.: “Conduct ShakeOut and learn safe actions”Disaster prevention speakers: 146 locations throughout the city (entire area)
Emergency alert radios: Within Sakura FM’s listening area
Nishinomiya Disaster Prevention Net: Registered emergency information recipients
Nishinomiya City Hall’s Twitter and Facebook
It will end in about 10 minutes from 10:00 a.m.
A training broadcast will be played through disaster prevention speakers, emergency alert radios, and other systems.
10:00 a.m. Earthquake Early Warning: Citywide
A chime will sound before and after as a signal for the drill.
That slightly scary Earthquake Early Warning chime will play three times.
At that time, please practice the three ShakeOut steps on your own.
10:02 a.m. Major Tsunami Warning: Citywide
As before, a chime will sound before and after as a signal for the drill.
The unfamiliar Major Tsunami Warning siren will play three times.
This is a drill to help you think, “If slow, large shaking continues for more than a minute, a tsunami might be coming!”
Sounds of the Earthquake Early Warning and Major Tsunami Warning
You may already be familiar with the Earthquake Early Warning sound.
But most people probably haven’t heard the Major Tsunami Warning, so it may be a good idea to listen to it in advance.
Disaster prevention speakers can be hard to hear
From this season onward, people will be using air conditioners, so if your windows are closed, the disaster prevention speakers may be harder to hear.
If you can’t hear the important disaster prevention speakers when a massive earthquake eventually comes, your response may be delayed, which could even become life-threatening.
Our recommendation is an emergency alert radio.
It costs 2,200 yen including tax. It used to have a list price of 8,640 yen!
They are also sold at several Joshin stores in Nishinomiya City.
For other sales locations and detailed information, please see About “Emergency Alert Radios”｜Nishinomiya City Website.
One per household. If you live in a two-story house, having two might give you peace of mind. If you’re wondering, “What’s an emergency alert radio like?” we wrote about it here.
Finally
These kinds of drills are also scheduled for October 7, November 5, and February 17 next year. Even though they’re drills, having the alert suddenly sound without knowing in advance might be bad for the heart, so Nishitsu will continue posting articles ahead of time.
