It seemed like a normal afternoon. We live in Japan, so frequent, mild earthquakes are not uncommon. I was up in my room when this one began. As usual, I prayed to know if it was one to worry about or not. Since we moved here in 2006, the answers back have always been, “It’s okay. Don’t worry.” So, I’ll calmly go on with my day. However, this time, the answer was different. I was to listen to my husband’s voice. Then, suddenly my husband’s voice called, “Everyone, leave the house NOW!”
I grabbed the baby. The quake grew stronger. I pin-balled down the stairs. By the time I reached the entryway, the earth was rocking and swaying so hard it was all I could do to keep going. The front door was open wide, so I focused outside on my family. Muddy water shot up as tall as me from all around the base of our house. I scrambled through it the best I could. The neighborhood lurched every which direction. Mud started filling the yard everywhere and running down our pathway.
At the street, my husband directed us towards the park. It was just one house away, yet it took such effort to stride there because the ground and our steps were completely out of sync. I looked up and saw the swinging power lines over head and the street lights were jarring to and fro.
At the park, we found a place free of over hanging electrical wires. However, there was a very tall pole with City Hall “announcement speakers” at its top. It towered above the park’s trees. As it wobbled, I nervously kept my eyes on it. Although my 13 year old daughter, Sarah (who we wouldn’t see again until three days later), was down in Tokyo, the rest of us quickly knelt in family prayer.
When I looked over, the ground, just a few feet to my right, was splitting apart. The split suddenly ran through one third of the long park. As it widened, it became a two foot wide gap. Then mud starting pouring out of it. I started scooting away. However, I found there was no where else to go except tighter together. I noticed the ground itself, except for the small circle where we knelt, began rolling in waves. The cement pathway and the street to our left starting cracking and banging and shifting. Two pieces of playground equipment started to slowly sink into the gap. The earthquake kept rolling and kept growing bigger. I think this is about when I started to prayerfully cry and moan, hoping especially the people in the epicenter were alright.
When the massive earthquake stopped, aftershocks started following. Since we live in a sheltered bay, my husband mentioned tidal waves tend to follow as well. So, he quickly ran to get our van. I waited with the kids while he drove over. Thankfully, our vehicle had been pre-packed with 72 hour kits and emergency water.
After he parked, my husband checked his iphone. Years before, he had worked doing investments with catastrophe reinsurance companies and had bookmarked their website. The website reports earthquakes and other disasters world-wide. Within minutes one can know where they happened and what their magnitudes were. We were shocked. The earthquake’s epicenter had been no where near us. It had been in northern Japan. If it had been this bad here, how much MORE horrible must it have been there? And who would have known it was only the beginning of three major catastrophes that were going to befall Japan.
So, April Perry asked me to write an article up about what people can do to prepare for such big, unexpected emergencies. First, I recommend not living near the coastline. Secondly, don’t live near a nuclear plant. And third, prioritize preparing for emergencies that are possibilities for your area.
The first two suggestions are fairly easy to do something about if you’re renting. If you’re not, you will have to be more creative in your decision making. Property values can go down rapidly after large-scale emergencies. I do suggest living by a grocery store and getting carbon filters for your water supply-double check it, of course, but carbon filters are said to work to clear up radioactive iodine.
Considering the third suggestion, it’s vital to keep in mind some catastrophes are so huge, even if you are prepared, there may be nothing you can do once they happen. However, if you are prepared (to the best of your ability) there will be peace of mind that will accompany you.
Some examples: I see people here that either work for or give donations to organizations that help communities recover after things such as earthquakes. If, for example, you’ve volunteered for or given to reputable organizations, you can know your conscience will not be hurting if a violent earthquake should happen to you. Whereas, someone who knew they could have, but didn’t, will face some regret for those missed opportunities. It’s important to teach your children to volunteer and give to valid organizations too. Help them build “muscle memory” for helping and giving.
There are people who prioritize and store up food, water, and other “essential items.” These tend to vanish from stores after catastrophes. There are websites you can visit that recommend and/or sell, as well as help calculate, what a person’s family-needs are. (see www.beprepared.com) Taste test what you buy before bulk buying it. You’ll also have to research and practice how to cook, store, and cope with what you purchase. That becomes essential “muscle memory” though!
Know, depending on how much is stored, if a family's hope is to glorify God, they’ll be able to serve their communities following huge disasters in wonderful, hope-giving ways. Also, if you had storage before the emergency, you’ll have better piece of mind regarding what others give you if the emergency wipes away what you had.
Basic 72 hour kits fit well under seats in vehicles, along with a couple other “must have items.” It’s also wise to prepare additional 72 hour backpacks to keep in one’s house. They can contain such things as spare clothes, kid games, extra toilet paper, as well as extra portable water filters, just to name a few.
Most importantly, learn how to calm yourself. God can talk to you then.
Lastly, do drills. I CANNOT emphasize “muscle memory” building drills enough. Time them. Find your weak areas through them and then work to make them strong.
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