You Fools!

[Mulboyne]

Yomiuri: Most would try to get home after big quake
Most people in Tokyo would try to return home immediately if a major earthquake struck the metropolitan area, even though the government would rather they were temporarily evacuated, according to a recent survey by the Cabinet Office. Although the response measures drafted by the government recommend that those expected to have difficulty getting home after an earthquake should not try to do so, the survey found about 70 percent would try to head home even if they were as far as 20 kilometers away. The Cabinet Office said the results suggest the public has not been adequately informed of the appropriate response, and that it intends to increase public awareness...The government fears central Tokyo would descend into chaos if those working, studying and shopping there all tried to return home after an earthquake...more...

[Iraira]

I imagine that the trains would be very crowded if everyone was trying to go home at the same time....

[Bucky]

Iraira:
I imagine that the trains would be very crowded if everyone was trying to go home at the same time....

If the trains were even running:confused:

[Greji]

[quote="Iraira"]I imagine that the trains would be very crowded if everyone was trying to go home at the same time....]

A boon for the chikan's!

[Iraira]

A boon for the chikan's!

"That wasn't my hand, it was just an aftershock."

[Kuang_Grade]

To me, I think it is far more surprising that the government finds the survey results surprising, even with 26% of the sample being "disaster prevention" (now, there's a job) workers. The human instinct would be to return home to meet up with family members and see how bad it was your area. Given the gov's performance in Kobe, I wouldn't think that most J folks are not going to count on the gov to dig out their loved ones out of the rubble. While it may complicate initial disaster response efforts, the gov should be planning on this to happen rather than expecting non local people to sheepishly sit out the aftershocks in some tiny neighborhood park for a couple of days.

[amdg]

To me, I think it is far more surprising that the government finds the survey results surprising, even with 26% of the sample being "disaster prevention" (now, there's a job) workers. The human instinct would be to return home to meet up with family members and see how bad it was your area. Given the gov's performance in Kobe, I wouldn't think that most J folks are not going to count on the gov to dig out their loved ones out of the rubble. While it may complicate initial disaster response efforts, the gov should be planning on this to happen rather than expecting non local people to sheepishly sit out the aftershocks in some tiny neighborhood park for a couple of days.

Absolutely. If I had relatives back in a quake-effected hometown I would be trying to get back there ASAP too. That should be a given.

[GomiGirl]

My family and I have a plan to meet in a central spot. So we would all make our way to our agreed spot as we assume there would not be phone service or train service.

[eddie]

i work close to home...i'd go home...and get my dog.
(i assume food would be scarce)

[james]

i work close to home...i'd go home...and get my dog.
(i assume food would be scarce)

you'd eat your dog?

[Oradea]

I would eat his dog.

[ttjereth]

I would eat his dog.

I'd eat him. (Like cooked with a fork, not sausage swallowing like Jack)

[GuyJean]

Funny exchange..

I have a 'meeting place' lined up as well.. But first I'd have to make it past the hordes of gaijin-killing Japanese and rabid women in high heels asking me to carry them..

Sounds like a video game.

GJ

[GomiGirl]

:lol: Funny exchange..

I have a 'meeting place' lined up as well.. But first I'd have to make it past the hordes of gaijin-killing Japanese and rabid women in high heels asking me to carry them..

Sounds like a video game.

That would be an awesome video game - very omega man-esque. Get to your family meeting spot in a post apocalyptic Tokyo without being attacked for your FG status and avoiding rabid women who can't walk in high heels.

[kusai Jijii]

Awwww, come on FGs, who are we trying to kid? We'd all be rioting, looting, and engaging in otherwise anti-social, distructive behaviour after 'the big one' hits. Just ask Ol' Blinky...

[Gilligan]

Awwww, come on FGs, who are we trying to kid? We'd all be rioting, looting, and engaging in otherwise anti-social, distructive behaviour after 'the big one' hits. Just ask Ol' Blinky...

Why wait?;)

[Iraira]

[quote="Gilligan"]Why wait?]

Ok, I just took out the 7-11 rancid oden cart near Toranomon Station. "Grade D" food!
Once, I get my stomach pumped, I'm hitting 109...I need a hobby and crossdressing might fit the bill.... again.

[Mulboyne]

Asahi: Disaster panel predicts people packed like sardines on streets after Tokyo quake

Strangers packed six to a 1-square-meter area. Crowds of people moving at a snail's pace. The constant threat of being trampled in a stampede. That's what about 2 million people would face for at least three hours if they try to walk home after a devastating earthquake hits central Tokyo at noon on a weekday, according to a government report. The report, compiled by a panel under the Cabinet Office's Central Disaster Management Council and released Wednesday, predicts the aftermath of a magnitude 7.3 quake with its epicenter in the northern part of Tokyo Bay. The scenario of the streets of the Tokyo area, the first of its kind, was based on interviews with 200 people.

Immediately following such a quake, about 12.52 million people--out of 13.97 million workers, students, shoppers and others--would begin walking home, according to the report. Within three hours, streets would be as packed as rush-hour trains at 35 locations in 13 of Tokyo's 23 wards, mainly at crossings and areas near fires. About 2 million people would be stuck for three hours or longer in such conditions, according to the report. An area near Kami-Itabashi Station in Itabashi Ward would be most crowded. The panel said the area could be thrown into chaos if people were unable to use the Kawagoe road due to a fire or other problems. In the three central Tokyo wards of Chiyoda, Chuo and Minato, an estimated 1.95 million people would begin heading home after the temblor. But for three to five hours, 38 percent of them, or 750,000, would be able to move no more than 400 meters per hour, according to the panel.

In general, it would take two to three times longer to walk home than under normal conditions. For example, if people try to walk home from the Marunouchi business district in Chiyoda Ward, they would arrive at Yokohama city hall after nearly 15 hours or Wako city hall in Saitama Prefecture after more than 15 hours. The report pointed out, however, that if people delay the trek home or if local governments increase publicity efforts, the congestion would be substantially eased. For example, if one-third of the people postponed their return home until the following day, the number of people affected by the congestion would be halved.

In a report to be compiled by the end of the current fiscal year, the panel plans to call on companies and schools to set up makeshift sections where people can rest during their walks home. The report is also expected to propose measures to prevent confusion around major train stations. Details of the simulation are available on the Cabinet Office's Japanese website.

[Adhesive]

As an undergraduate, I did my honors thesis on risk communication. The data we accumulated was pretty frightening. A significant number of people reported to be unwilling to follow many of the government recommendations that may follow a disaster. We were sampling from what we anticipated to be particularly "vulnerable" populations (i.e., the only thing you can seem to get funding for anymore; minorities), so their skepticism of the government was relatively high and seemed to correlate with their refusal to follow the government recommendations. The one good thing about the Japanese group-think mentality may be that it would save them in a disaster scenario, assuming the government gave appropriate recommendations. I know, that's a pretty big assumption.