Following the disaster prevention drill which took place in our community on December 1, I decided to check my disaster stocks at home. Especially after the 3/11 earthquake and tsunami catastrophe in the northeastern parts of Japan, we have been constantly advised by various public offices that each household is supposed to stock disaster goods and foods for at least three days.

So, I took out those stocks, placed them on the floor for checking and took photos of them on December 10. But before going into details, let me explain what happened at my place (about 400 kilometers south west of the epicenter) on March 11, 2011.

On that Friday afternoon, my wife and I were at home; she was watching TV and I was working on the computer. Suddenly, an alarm sound from the cell phone

squeaked; a few seconds later the severe earthquake came. So, what is known as an “earthquake early warning system” did function properly. What actions did we take? My wife went under the table; I was at a loss where to protect myself.

When the earthquake subsided, we checked around. Our house seemed OK, with the exception of broken glass from a fallen photo stand. Electricity was cut off. Actually, the blackout lasted until around 10 pm. So, we relied entirely on a battery-powered radio for what had happened and the gush of news thereafter. With the power outage, the fixed phone line also went out. My wife turned to her cell phone and kept text-messaging with our two sons and daughter, who live in different places; but soon the cell phone battery failed.

From the next day on, people flocked to the nearest shops and supermarkets for disaster goods and foods, notably dry battery cells, bottles of water, and toilet paper. Coming back to our stock of disaster things, let me show you some photos.

Second, a pink backpack contains (from top to bottom):

*two other backpacks 

*clothes, underware for my wife

*a camera with dry batteries

*an electronic dictionary (also a calculator)

*ball-point pens

*cosmetics, tooth brushes, a comb

*bottles of water (will be replaced for the same reason)

*biscuits (“will be replaced for the same reason)

*playing cards

Do we have enough stocks? We are not sure. What’s more imperative is that our house will remain intact and that we are safe. Are we really prepared for another catastrophe, this time much closer to our place?    

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