Quake - Are we F*cked?

[DrP]

T +3days and all I see on TV are images regarding the recent shaker in Nigata. Upon closer examination of this insanely 'exhaustive coverage' I can't help but notice:

1) The conspicuous absence of SDF support - helicopter, vehicles, personnel.

2) The conspicuous absence of US support - helicopter, vehicles, personnel.

3) The chaotic appearance of refugee areas. No portable water storage, latrines, etc.

4) A friend informed me that one of their government orders would be delayed because funds have been diverted to earthquake. Funny, huh? Less than 3days after a quake and the government already decides it doesn't have enough money. And this for the world's 2nd largest economy with the largest amount of cash-on-hand... hmmmm.

So --- I wonder, if there is a <real> quake, like in a major population area, say Tokyo ... well I guess we would be F*CKED!!

I was in the SF and LA Earthquakes in California. Less than 18hrs following:

1) National guard was fully mobilized offering rescue and immediate need support to all local agencies.

2) Field hospitals were setup in refugee areas supporting overflow from hospitals.

3) Field kitchens were setup providing food and water in an organised and hygenic manner.

Just my 2yen - but I really think Japan should figure this out.

[Charles]

Call the Yamaguchi-gumi. They reportedly provided much of the immediate relief after the Kobe quake.

[GuyJean]

T +3days and all I see on TV are images regarding the recent shaker in Nigata. Upon closer examination of this insanely 'exhaustive coverage' I can't help but notice:

1) The conspicuous absence of SDF support - helicopter, vehicles, personnel.

2) The conspicuous absence of US support - helicopter, vehicles, personnel.

3) The chaotic appearance of refugee areas. No portable water storage, latrines, etc.

I was wondering the exact same thing!.. After the typhoon, there was garbage and saturated funiture all over in the streets. The locals were taking it to the dump themselves!.. Where is the SDF with their trucks? What is their purpose?

After the earthquake, on TV, I saw 4 SDFs in camos sitting at a desk doing nothing while the scientists ran back and forth screaming Richter readings to each other. Um, they're in camos. Shouldn't they at least be outside?

And why do they wear camos for rescue operations in the first place? Wouldn't it be better to wear bright colors? So they, along with people in need can see them from a distance.. I mean the SDFs in Iraq have bright J-flag targets on their chest and heads.. And that's war zone! (Well, I guess since it's obvious their job isn't to 'help' anyone, my point is moot.)

One thing for sure; when the big one hits, I'm hiking to the nearest US base..

GJ

[Socratesabroad]

Upon closer examination of this insanely 'exhaustive coverage' I can't help but notice:

1) The conspicuous absence of SDF support - helicopter, vehicles, personnel.

Umm, you mean like this:


Caption per JT reads
"Villagers from Yamakoshi, Niigata Prefecture, are airlifted to Nagaoka by a Self-Defense Forces helicopter after the road to their community was ripped away in a landslide."

The SDF launched a full-scale rescue mission with helicopters and transported food and water to evacuation sites.
About 300 personnel, 21 helicopters and 65 vehicles were dispatched for the relief effort. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20041025a2.htm

2) The conspicuous absence of US support - helicopter, vehicles, personnel.

And without Japanese gov't approval just what forces should the US send? Charges of another Iraq, I can already hear 'em...

3) The chaotic appearance of refugee areas. No portable water storage, latrines, etc.

Better chaotic with survivors than not.

Tens of thousands of rural residents -- many of them elderly -- were evacuated from flattened homes to emergency shelters, and the Self-Defense Forces used helicopters to airlift stranded villagers from the riverside hamlet of Shiotanihttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi ... 1025a1.htm

4) A friend informed me that one of their government orders would be delayed because funds have been diverted to earthquake.

This I haven't heard about, but then again, I'm not exactly privy to the fast-breaking Japanese news here...

[Taro Toporific]

[GuyJean]

Umm, you mean like this:..

That was initially.. After the first day, they seem to mysteriously disappear; locals are supposed to clean up everything after the typhoon? So, I guess they only rescue. They don't do cleaning.

GJ

[GuyJean]

It's impossible to enter the base without miltary ID or specific invitation --- I know that we would be VERY uninvited.

I have a friend 'on the inside'.. Plus, an ex-mildude friend with strong connections... So, you recommend the embassy is better?

GJ

[Socratesabroad]

[quote="GuyJean"]After the first day, they seem to mysteriously disappear]

Umm, as active-duty military, no they don't do cleaning. As for my personal experience, US forces stationed on Oahu helped out with the initial response after Hurricane Iniki, but they soon returned to regular duties (I'm not including the sizeable Coast Guard there as military).

Keep in mind that the SDF is Japan's active-duty military (although they do have a minimal reserve component), not the National Guard in the US sense. So they go back to their assigned mission once lives are saved. Clean up is the responsibility of the municipal and prefectural government.

[GuyJean]

Keep in mind that the SDF is Japan's active-duty military (although they do have a minimal reserve component), not the National Guard in the US sense.

There ya' go; I assumed the Self Defense Force was equivalent to the US National Guard... Because, for some reason, I still think titles have meaning, and the titles seem to mean the same thing; protect the homeland.

Of course, the National Guard is more like active duty now anyway.. Orwell would be proud..

GJ

[Taro Toporific]

[devicenull]

[Taro Toporific]

quick question.. if you get into the US embassy with your US passport and say... dont leave and just crash there for the night. will they throw you out/ban you?

No way Jose.'
They'd shoot you and then rape you.

"We're here for diplomacy, not tourism "
---The Tokyo Embassy Motto repeated to me many times over the years:

[devicenull]

quick question.. if you get into the US embassy with your US passport and say... dont leave and just crash there for the night. will they throw you out/ban you?

No way Jose.'
They'd shoot you and then rape you.

"We're here for diplomacy, not tourism "
---The Tokyo Embassy Motto repeated to me many times over the years:

on american soil no less

[Skankster]

"We're here for diplomacy, not tourism "
---The Tokyo Embassy Motto repeated to me many times over the years:

thats crap. they are here for citizen services just the same.










I think the original poster is very correct.
I stock water on my veranda. And dont let my dry goods food supply get down.
Now however I will stock more.

[DrP]

Well - I guess the real point of my original post was to see if anyone besides myself has/had some thoughts to the 'preparedness' of Japan for any disaster other than scraping up salarymen turned to mush after 'dropping' on the Chuo Line.

The thing that concerned me most was:

1) In the Kobe quake delays by the Japanese government to allow foreign assistance dramatically reduced their effort to effectively search , rescue and aid victims. After all - Japan IS the U.S.'s largest aircraft carrier ...

2) I stand corrected on the 21 helis (whoopee - our family had a helicopter service and we had 10 and donated 5 to a flood rescue the same day it happened) What's that make us? 25% of the capability of the SDF?? I know the stats might seem 'spurious' but come on - their vehicle listing was mighty low for acting on this type of incident.

3) By watching TV reports it seemed the hospitals really didn't have the necessary 'triage' training. Alot of disorderly looking orderlies and no 'pre-screening' areas. Of course again - I was only watching the last 48hrs of what NHK decided to air continuously.

4) Lack of organised refugee areas. The papers report many people gathered around bonfires to keep warm -- hmmm, that's a good strategy. What about providing temporary field shelter in pre-located refugee gathering areas??

5) The obvious diversion of funds by evidence of my friend's 'circumstantial' statements. This one really bothers me. This quake wasn't really that serious and yet they still have to consider funds diversion?? I can understand any of these issues in countries that aren't so wealthy and prepared. But Japan? The smallest landsize/money on the planet to take care of.... except for maybe Monaco.

6) I'm not impressed -- and it's why I live in a 2F max house with nothing tall around it. After going through 2 major california quakes I keep a few flashlites, candles, sleeping bag and enough food/water for 3days. Don't trust anyone to be there for you! And after seeing this, I'm even more convinced!

[Taro Toporific]

"We're here for diplomacy, not tourism "
---The Tokyo Embassy Motto repeated to me many times over the years:

thats crap. they are here for citizen services just the same.

I certainly thought it was crap when I was thrown out sometime after 4pm for slacker-scheduled closing of the Tokyo Embassy.

In smaller countries, the US Embassy are nice folks like the Canadian Embassy here in Tokyo*. I used to be invited to embassy parties whenever I visited the US Embassy -- Guatemala City late in the afternoon. Hell, even the US Embassy Paris served me coffee and tarts if I waited longer than 45 minutes to get my business done.

*When I was working in Harajuku near the Canadian Embassy Tokyo they said with a wink that in a real pinch like an earthquake they would look the other way if I presented my dead father's Canadian passport to them since our pictures match.

[Mike Oxlong]

If the emergency services are so comprehensive, then why are people living in their cars? MDN

[Socratesabroad]

In smaller countries, the US Embassy are nice folks like the Canadian Embassy here in Tokyo

Well, the US embassy/consulate folks in Tianjing did take time out of their schedules so that 2 staffers could call and make sure I was OK because 'your mother hasn't heard from you in a while.' (the full story's here http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8060&start=30)


Never been to the US embassy in Tokyo, though...

[DW]

Here are a few observations based on lengthy, direct experience both here and elsewhere on the planet for roughly 35 years:

1
From Saigon to Bogota to Baghdad, AMEMB ain't no evac or aid center. I sincerely hope none of you have to see this material again under dire circumstances. If you want to debate that, please do it with your area AMEMB or consulate. If you have not contacted your local AMEMB or consulate to get current reaction protocols from them, I suggest you do it at your earliest possibe convenience, as you're not going to find that info on a general purpose gaijin bulletin board.

2
Jp gov has both critical incident warning AND post incident reaction protocols "figured out" to the extent they want to "figure it out". Their brand of incident reaction and aid is based on some very different notions than those accepted and used in the west - some cultural, some religious, some political... the list would likely read like a novel. If you have seen nothing more than Jp tv offerings on the aftermath of recent typhoons, quakes, and a few smaller scale incidents, this should be apparent on face value.

3
Japan has no USNG equivalent. Period. And you should take very specific note that few if any local law enforcement personnel are on the ground in Nigata.

4
Japan has a peculiar lack of re-taskable helicopters for critical incident response. This has dire effects on the quality and quantity of response.

5
The Kobe quake's fastest first responders were Yakuza (as mentioned earlier) and lay Buddhists.

6
If you are at or near ground zero in any critical incident in Japan, and relatively immobilized or unable to travel outside the hit-zone, you should assume you will be waiting for three days for any substantive rescue, aid or re-supply ops.

7
If you are gaijin and you don't have a bug-out bag with minimum three days of barebones provisions, you will likely be in deep scheit should any critical incident hit your area.

8
A smart idea - which is not likely to be adopted by most transient gaijiin - is to establish a net (network) of local and regional contacts for emergencies. FG would be a great place to epicenter such a net in digital form, but I can't speak for the FG's HMFIC (head MF in charge).

Suggested Digital Pods:
1 - If shit hits the fan, what can I expect ?
2 - How can I prepare ?
3 - Who can I contact if I'm in a jam ?
4 - A list of willing netters with email, cmail, keitai and other POC info.

That's just my ten yen.

Have at it.

[Taro Toporific]

If you have not contacted your local AMEMB or consulate to get current reaction protocols from them, I suggest you do it at your earliest possibe convenience, as you're not going to find that info on a general purpose gaijin bulletin board..

http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-7111.html
Disaster Preparedness Checklist for Americans in Japan
"....The Role of the Embassy
The Japanese Government will be responsible for assisting foreigners immediately after a major earthquake...."

In other words, the Embassy does not want any part of FGs.

[Mulboyne]

Not much more at the British Embassy although they hope to get people along to the evacuation areas. A laudable aim although I'd rather not have to find out whether they'll be able to do it.

Earthquake Preparedness Index

"In case of a serious earthquake the staff of the British Embassy in Tokyo and the British Consulate-General in Osaka will try to find out where British nationals affected by the earthquake are and check their welfare.
The nationals the Embassy and Consulate-General will be most easily able to help will be those registered with us. Please contact us to do this and encourage your British colleagues and friends to do likewise. Click here to find out how to tell us you're here!
In the case of the Tokyo area, the Embassy will work with other EU Embassies to send teams to the evacuation areas in order to assist all EU nationals there. The team at your evacuation area may therefore come from another EU Embassy, but it will pass information on your welfare to us and we in turn will pass it on to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London to transmit to your relatives in the UK.
The Japanese Government will be responsible for helping foreigners immediately after a major earthquake and, in Tokyo's case, wards have already made extensive preparations for emergency provisions. We will try to direct you to the nearest evacuation area where these may be available.
"Earthquake Precautions" from the Metropolitan Police Department can be obtained at all police stations or from the Disaster Prevention Section of the Police Department (tel (03) 3581 4321 ext 3656). "What To Do During An Earthquake" is available from the Public Relations Office of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, 2-8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku (tel (03) 53882453)"

[DW]

In other words, the Embassy does not want any part of FGs.

You've said it. Now I've said it, based on being on both sides of the embassy gates frequently since my first foray to JP in 1959. I hope nobody has to find it out the hard way.

BTDT.