During the 1996 General Disaster Prevention Training, 28 designated agencies, 19 designated public organs and 13 prefectures most threatened by earthquakes took part in this training. Pre- and post-disaster emergency response was the theme of this training. Employees of the Ministry of Home Affairs participated in the training in line with the National Fire Defence Agency Disaster Prevention Plan and the Fire Defence Agency Emergency Response Manual. The Fire Defence Agency also set up an Earthquake Warning Headquarters and a Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters, and established a communications network with the relevant prefectures involving the Emergency Fire Defence Support Team within the wide-area support system. The Fire Defence agency dispatched its 'On-site Operations Support Vehicle' to the mock disaster site.
2. Seven Prefectures and Cities Joint Disaster Prevention Training
Each year on September 1, Tokyo, Chiba Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture, Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama City, Kawasaki City and Chiba City (Seven Prefectures and Cities) train with the cooperation of the national government and other local governments in preparation for the anticipated major earthquake. The Fire Defence Agency gives advice to these local governments.
In 1996 the 17th Seven Prefectures and Cities Joint Disaster Prevention Training was held in Kawasaki City, and in 1997 the training is scheduled to be held in Yokohama City.
