1. Emergencies

A. Fire, Ambulance, & Rescue

Call 119, but only in the case of an emergency. Emergency operators only speak Japanese, but interpretation may be possible. Be prepared to provide the following:

State if there is a fire or if you need an ambulance.
Address (or nearby landmarks)
Phone number
Name

Interpretation can be provided in the following languages:

24-hour availability: English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.: English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazilian Portuguese included), Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese, Tagalog, French, Russian, Nepalese.

If you request and ambulance, the vehicles are equipped with multilingual computer tablets that can aid in communication. They have a wider range of available languages, including Indonesian, Burmese, Khmer, Mongolian, Arabic, Italian, Ukrainian, Urdu (Indian and Pakistani), Dutch, Sinhala (Sri Lanka), Danish, German, Turkish, Hungarian, Hindi (India), Polish, Malay (Malaysia), and Lao.

How to make a 119 report!

DON’T

Yell at the operator
Hang up the phone without giving details
Speak too fast to understand

Use landmarks or street names if you don’t know the address
Calmly answer the operator’s questions
Speak slowly and clearly

119 Flowchart

Operator：This is the fire department. Is there a fire or do you need an ambulance?

Fire Department

Operator：What is your location?

Operator：What is burning?

Operator：What is your name and phone number?

Ambulance

Operator：What is your location?

Operator：What happened to who?

Operator：What is your name and phone number?

B. Police

Call 110. Police can be called in the case of threats, car accidents, or other emergency situations. Interpretation is possible in English and other languages.

Provide your:

Name
Phone number
Description of the incident
Incident location and time

If you call with your mobile phone and GPS tracking is enabled, the police can find your location.
In the event of a traffic accident, first call 119 if there are any injured parties. Then call 110.
If you have lost an item or have found one, go the closest police station or police box.
In a non-emergency situation, call the Iwamizawa Police Department at: 0126-22-0110

Useful phrases for emergencies
Romanized Japanese	Translation
Watashi no namae wa ____ desu.	My name is _____.
Denwa bango wa ______ desu.	My phone number is ______.
Dorobo desu.	I’ve been robbed.
Keganin ga imasu.	Someone is injured.
Tasukete!	Help!
Basho wa _____.	The place is _____.
Kaji desu!	Fire!
Kyukyusha onegai shimasu!	Please send an ambulance!
Kotsu jiko desu!	There’s been an accident!

Emergency calls can be made from public phones. Pick up the receiver, push the red emergency button and dial 110 or 119.

C. Natural Disasters

In the even of a flood or a landslide, evacuation information will be communicated using the following alert levels.
Alert leve	Action	Information
5	Life-threatening danger. Take immediate action to protect your own safety.	Emergency safety measures
4	Everyone evacuates from dangerous areas.	Evacuation instructions
3	Those who need more time to evacuate (elderly, persons with disabilities, etc.) should evacuate.	Evacuation of those in need of assistance
2	Prepare for evacuation, check maps, emergency supplies, etc.	Heavy rain, flood, or storm surge advisories (Japan Meteorological Agency)
1	Be prepared for potential disasters.	Probability of warnings (Japan Meteorological Agency)

Things to note about alert levels:

Alert level 5 is rarely issued, due in part to municipal governments being unable to grasp the severity of the disaster.
Level 3 alert indicates that everyone should prepare to evacuate in case the alert level increases. People who have difficulty evacuating or need more time should proceed to evacuate themselves.

Level 5

You can no longer safely evacuate. Evacuate before the alert level 5 is issued.

Level 4

All residents should evacuate when or before alert level 4 is issued.

Level 3

Those who require more time or assistence should evacuate when alert level 3 is issued.

I. Evacuation

Evacuation is getting somewhere safe, not just moving to an evacuation shelter. Proceed with caution and determine the best action.
Escape	Go a designated shelter. Go to a friend or relatives house if in a safe area. Drive to a safe area.
Stay inside	If it is unsafe to leave a building, remain inside. Get to the 2nd floor or higher. Check the hazard map in advance to determine if a location is safe.
Emergency action	If it is impossible to evacuate, do what you can to protect yourself from the hazard. Get to as high an elevation area as possible, stay inside away from the elements, or evacuate to a next door building.

Hazard map

Hazard maps indicate which areas are prone to danger in the event of a natural disaster. They also indicate shelter locations and areas to avoid.

Iwamizawa City Disaster Prevention Map

II. General Preparedness

Be aware of evacuation shelters and inform yourself of the safest route to take in case of an emergency. Shelter locations are written on page 11.

Basic emergency supplies:

Personal medication
Sanitary supplies (toothbrush, wipes, sanitary napkins, diapers, etc.)
FM radio
Flashlight
Batteries (including portable charger)
Valuables (wallet, identification)
Food (sealed and packaged)
Water
First aid kit
A change of clothes
Waterproof and heavy winter clothes
Slippers

Prepare emergency supplies in advance. In the event of a major natural disaster, the city's infrastructure could be compromised and having emergency provisions will greatly help in such extreme situations.

Safety tips application:

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) developed a smartphone app for people visiting Japan, called “Safety tips”. Its aim is to provide multilingual information in the event of natural disasters.

The following website provides information on useful tools, websites, etc. to help foreign visitors in Japan stay safe, including in the event of a disaster.

Useful tools for foreign visitors to Japan in case of disaster

Email services:

There are two types of email services in Iwamizawa.

Disaster prevention mail (Area mail): Emergency alerts in the event of an imminent natural disaster in Iwamizawa. NTT Docomo, KDDI (au), and Softbank Mobile send alert mails to cell phones within the municipal district. No registration required. An alert mail will be sent automatically to the corresponding type of cell phone.
Iwamizawa mail service: Disaster prevention, crime prevention, snow removal notices, public transportation notices. Scan the QR code below to register (Japanese).

Click this link to open an email. Send the email with the subject line and contents blank. When you receive a response, click the link to complete registration.

Internet resources

III. Earthquakes

Japanese Meteorological Agency Seismic Intensity Scale (Shindo)
Shindo 0	Tremors cannot be felt.
Shindo 1	Weak tremors that might be felt by those who are stationary and indoors
Shindo 2	Slightly stronger tremors that are likely to be felt by those indoors.
Shindo 3	Felt by most people indoors. Objects may rattle or swing.
Shindo 4	Most people are startled or awoken. Objects may move significantly.
Shindo 5 weak	Tremors that impede movement. Objects swing violently, break, or fall. Furniture may move.
Shindo 5 strong	Moving is difficult without holding onto somethings. Objects continue to break and fall. Furniture, may topple over.
Shindo 6 weak	Difficult to remain standing. Wall tiles and windows may sustain damage and fall.
Shindo 6 strong	Impossible to remain standing. Most furniture will move and fall.
Shindo 7	Impossible to move due to the tremor. People may be thrown through the air. Buildings may collapse.

For more explanations of the seismic scale in different situations, visit the Japan Meteorological Agency website:

Japan Meteorological Agency

To help prepare for earthquakes, make a “earthquake safe zone” in your house, where things are less likely to fall, break, or move. In the event of an earthquake, you can go to this space to ensure your safety before evacuating.

Secure furniture to prevent it from moving.
Be aware of where items may fall or move.
Make it away from windows.

Emergency Earthquake Alert

●Seismic waves are measured by devices at two different geographic spots. There are two types of activity measured: seismic activity (see table above) and long-period seismic motion*.

If seismic activity is measured at “shindo 5 weak”, an alert will be issued to electronic devices within an area of strength “shindo 4” or stronger shocks.
If long-period seismic motion is measured at level 3**, an alert will be issued to electronic devices within an area of strength level 3 or stronger shocks.

●The alert could come just a few seconds before the earthquake event, so be ready to act.

●Stay calm and protect your head while moving to a safe area, like under a table.

●Do not panic and run outside.

●Do not try and turn off a stove or heater if unsafe to do so.

*Long-period seismic motion refers to shaking due to an earthquake that lasts for longer than a quake on the seismic intensity scale. The scale measures degree of difficulty in human activities and degree of damage in buildings or objects.

**Level 3 means it is difficult to stand, unfixed furniture will move or shift, and cracks can form in walls.

In the event of an earthquake, there will be alert sirens from televisions, cellphones, and emergency FM radios.

When an earthquake happens, do not panic. Calmly assess the situation and act accordingly.

Secure you and your family’s safety

Your life is the most important. When an earthquake occurs, first secure your own safety by getting under a desk or chair.

Do not panic and rush outside. Move in a calm manner.

Turn off appliances

Once the shaking stops, turn off all appliances with a flame.

When evacuating, turn off all gas valves and circuit breakers.

Open the door and secure the exit

There are times when the doors get stuck due to earthquakes. Make sure to secure your exit.

Help those around you

Call out to your neighbours to check if they are safe, especially to households with the elderly or handicapped.

Other things to do:

Be cautious of aftershocks.
Wear appropriate footwear.
Check for updated information through television, radio, or internet.
Do not enter buildings that have collapsed or are at risk of collapsing.

※If your residence is unaffected, do not feel compelled to evacuate.

IV. Floods

If there is a large amount of rain and your residence is near a river, it may be at risk of a flood. Refer to the following diagram to prepare for a disaster.

See page 4 of this guide for a QR code linking to the Iwamizawa hazard map, to check what areas are prone to flooding.

Response Timeline
	What to do
Pre-disaster ↓	Check your evacuation route and methods. Stock food, water, etc. in case of an emergency. Prepare evacuation items. Secure resources for obtaining information: radio, internet, pamphlets, etc.
Standby ↓ Flood warning	Find out information from radio, TV, etc. Refrain from going out. Confirm locations of family members. Those who need more time to evacuate, begin preparation for evacuation.
↓	Alert level 3
Begin evacuation	Those who need more time to evacuate, begin evacuation. Others begin preparation for evacuation.
↓	Alert level 4
Danger ↓	Begin evacuation.
FLOOD

Types of landslides

Rockfall

Due to rain, melted snow, or earthquakes, the earth crumbles and slides. It can happen suddenly, therefore often causing injury to people who live nearby or cannot escape in time.

Mudslide

Rocks from mountains or rivers, sand, and dirt mix with large amounts of rain and violently slide down. It can reach speeds up to 40 km and instantly destroy buildings.

Landslip

Rain or melted snow soak into the ground, causing the land to intermittently slip. It occurs over a wide area all at once, causing serious damage. Once it starts it is very difficult to stop completely.

V. Evacuation Shelters

Living in an evacuation shelter may not be comfortable. There are some who have their health deteriorate due to stress and exhaustion. As life is communal, it is essential to help each other out by respecting rules and manners.

Communal life

Have all your belongings gathered in one place.
Write your name on your belongings to prevent confusion.
There are people sleeping due to exhaustion or poor health, so be considerate of others.

Keep your surroundings clean

Throw out garbage in designated areas. Keep the toilet clean after use.
Keep your space neat and clean.

Be considerate of others

If possible, help those who are elderly or handicapped.
If changing diapers or prosthetics, try setting up a curtain to protect their privacy.

Food and Water

At shelters, food will be rationed out. As food is limited, each person will only receive a single portion, and more can not be given at request.
When the water supply is cut, water will be given out. Some people will have trouble moving it, so help them if you can.

Staying healthy at the shelter

Be careful of infections and other contagious diseases.
It is easy for colds, influenza, and other contagious diseases to spread. Take precautions by regularly washing your hands and putting on a mask.

Be careful of venous thrombosis

If you stay seated in the same position for too long, blood clots can form in your veins. These can be life-threatening if they travel to other parts of your body. Avoid this by moving regularly.

VI. List of major evacuation shelters

Iwamizawa City and vicinity evacuation shelters
No	Evacuation Shelter (Romanized Japanese)
1	Dai ichi shōgakkō (Elementary School) (Midori machi 3chōme 7ban 1gō)
2	Sōgō taiikukan (Sports Centre) (kita 3jō nishi 12chōme 2ban 16)
3	Hokushin shōgakkō (Elementary School) (Minorichō 30banchi 7)
4	Higashi shōgakkō (Elementary School) (Higashi machi 2jō 7chōme 977banchi 5)
5	Tōkō chūgakkō (Middle School) (5jō higashi 14chōme 1banchi 1)
6	Iwamizawa shōgakkō (Elementary School) (2jō higashi 6chōme 2banchi)
7	Chūō shōgakkō (Elementary School) (7jō nishi 16chōme 7banchi3)
8	Shōgai gakushū sentā Iwanabi (Cultural Centre) (4jō nishi 1chōme 3banchi 4)
9	Shimin kaikan・bunka sentā (Cultural Centre) (9jō nishi 4chōme 1banchi 1)
10	Minami shōgakkō (Elementary School) (9jō higashi 2chōme 1banchi)
11	Kōryō chūgakkō (Middle School) (Kasugachō 1chōme 10ban 37gō)
12	Misono shōgakkō (Elementary School) (Misono 5jō 4chōme 4ban 1gō)
13	Hinode shōgakkō (Elementary School) (kaedechō 2chōme 1ban 1gō)
14	Iwamizawa higashi kōtōgakkō (High School) (Higashiyama 8chōme 1ban 1gō)
15	Shibun shōgakkō (Elementary School) (shibunchō 161banchi 1)
16	Seien chūgakkō (Middle School) (shibunchō 927banchi 5)
17	Horomui sōgō komyunitī sentā (Horomui 1jō 1 chōme 70 banchi)
18	Horomui shōgakkō (Elementary School) (Horomui Minami 2jō 1chōme 180 banchi)
19	Yutaka chūgakkō (Middle School) (Horomui Minami 2jō 1chōme 59 banchi)
20	Kamihoromui chgakkō (Middle School) (Kamihoromui kita 1jō 4chōme 745 banchi 8)
21	Mēpuru shōgakkō (Elementary School) (kamishibunchō 107banchi 1)
22	Iwamine chiku nouchi ryūdouka sentā (Minemachi 330 banchi 3)
23	Asahi komyunitī kōryū sentā (Community Hall) (Asahichō 176banchi 22)
24	Mōyō komyunitī kōryū sentā (Community Hall) (mōyōchō 534banchi 11)
25	Kitamura torēningu sentā (Sports Centre) (kitamura akagawa 595 banchi 4)
26	Kitamura chūgakkō (Middle School) (kitamura chūō 4725 banchi)
27	Kitamura shōgakkō (Elementary School) (kitamura chūō 4725 banchi)
28	Hōsei chiku jichi kaikan (Kitamura hōsei 778 banchi 141)
29	Bibai tappu chiku jichi kaikan (Kitamura bibai tappu 4614
30	Horotappu chiku jichi kaikan (Kitamura Horotappu 5180 banchi 22)
31	Sunahama chiku jichi kaikan (Kitamura sunahama 361 banchi 12)
32	Higashi chiku jichi kaikan (Kitamura nakagoya 524 banchi 59)
33	Kurisawa shimin sentā (Community Hall) (Kurisawachō kitahonchō 168banchi 36)
34	Hissei chiku shūkaijo (Kurisawa machi hissei 195 banchi 4)
35	Nishi chiku shūkaijo (Kurisawa machi hokuto 601 banchi 1)
36	Gifu chiku shūkaijo (Kurisawa machi gifu 207 banchi 2)
37	Yura chiku shūkaijo (Kurisawa machi yura 419 banchi 1)
38	Moseushi chiku shūkaijo (Kurisawa machi moseushi 309 banchi 1)
39	Kamihoro chiku shūkaijo (Kurisawa machi kamihoro 350 banchi 1)
40	Kurioka chiku shūkaijo (Kurisawa machi Kurioka 201 banchi 11)
41	Yayoigaoka chiku shūkaijo (Kurisawa machi mogami 298 banchi 17)
42	Kurisawa B&G kaiyō sentā (Sports Centre) (Kurisawachō mogami 506 banchi 1)
43	Mogami hokuei chiku shūkaijo (Kurisawa machi Mogami 2 banchi 45)
44	Miyamura chiku shūkaijo (Kurisawa machi miyamura 186 banchi)
45	Miruto komyunitī sentā (Kurisawa machi miruto sakaecho 93 banchi)
46	Manji chiku shūkaijo (Kurisawa manji hanabusa cho 1 banchi 2)
47	Hoteru sanpuraza (Hotel) (4jō higashi 1chōme 6banchi 1)
48	Kitamura onsen Hotel (kitamura akagawa 156 banchi 7)

For more details about the evacuation shelters, visit the Iwamizawa city hall website:

Iwamizawa shi shitei hinanjo ichiran