Photo/Illutration People line up for taxis at JR Tokyo Station on Oct. 7 after an earthquake caused train services to be suspended. (Shiro Nishihata)

When an earthquake paralyzed public transportation, could I get back to my home from my office?

Several years ago, I set out to find out by walking from my office in central Tokyo to my home in Kanagawa Prefecture.

While I was walking home, I checked a smartphone map many times to ensure that I would not go the wrong way. As the long walk took a toll on my body, I dropped into a convenience store time and again. 

The thing is that it is far from clear whether and how much I can depend on my mobile phone or convenience stores during an actual natural disaster.

Sidewalks will get congested as they are thronged by people. Reflecting on the toughness of the challenge, I finished my nearly eight-hour journey while dragging my feet.

Should we try to return home quickly or stay where we are when a disaster strikes?

This question was posed to us afresh by a strong earthquake that rocked the Tokyo metropolitan area in the night of Oct. 7.

Long lines of people formed at train stations and taxi stands. It appears that many people returned to their offices to take a nap.

During the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, more than 5 million people in Tokyo and its vicinity were stranded by paralyzed transportation systems.

To prevent serious confusion, the Tokyo metropolitan government calls on citizens to avoid “moving around without good reason” during a major disaster.

Until the recent temblor, I did not know that public facilities and schools are made available for temporary stays during a disaster. It is a good idea to check the list of such facilities online.

It is often said that disasters strike when least expected.

But an expert in disaster prevention once told me that disasters cause damage because we are oblivious to the risk.

It goes without saying that we cannot stop natural disasters from occurring. Still, we can mitigate damage from disasters if we think in advance about what we should do in the event of an emergency.

We might as well, for example, carry some candy in our bags that will get us through one night. It will also help to carry around a bottle of water at all times. Let us start small in preparing for disasters.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 10

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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