Chapter 3 Earthquake preparation by the individual
Progress is being made in making our urban areas better able so withstand damage from earthquakes; refuge points, safe evacuation routes and disaster prevention bases have been established, the cities are being made fire-proof.
Buildings are being checked for their ability to withstand earthquakes, and made stronger, and lifelines are being made quake-proof.
However, the most fundamental protection against an earthquake is the readiness of each individual.
It is necessary for each individual to learn what to do when an earthquake strikes, and how to keep the damage to a minimum.
1 The significance of anti-earthquake preparation and an outline of the system
The aim of earthquake preparation is not to stop the natural ferocity of an earthquake but to keep the damage it causes to a minimum.
Just as it is difficult for modern science to predict an earthquake, it is virtually impossible to reduce earthquake damage to zero.
However, if each individual is constantly mindful of how to protect life, limb and property from the ferocity of nature, it is possible to keep the earthquake damage to a minimum.
At present the national government, local public bodies (prefectures and municipalities) and the private sector are working together to hurry on earthquake preparations in order to protect the life, limb
