When preparing the emergency kit, we introduced the idea of organizing them into the following ‘evacuation scenarios.’ If you haven’t read the article yet, you can check it out below.
Scenario 1: Items to Always Carry
Scenario 2: Items to Take for Immediate Emergency Evacuation
Scenario 3: Items to Ensure Comfort During Home Evacuation After a Disaster
This time, under the supervision of Ms. Nobue Kunizaki, Representative of 危機管理教育研究所, the Crisis Management Education Institute, we have compiled a summary of the items to prepare and considerations for “Scenario 3: Items to Ensure Comfort During Home Evacuation After a Disaster“. With the growing importance of preparing for natural disasters like earthquakes, sudden heavy rains, and typhoons, it’s essential to have the necessary supplies and strategies to ensure a comfortable evacuation at home.
Table of Contents
Nobue Kunizaki
Representative of the Crisis Management Education Institute;
With 20 years of research in disaster prevention from the perspectives of women and daily life, as well as experience in supporting disaster-stricken areas both domestically and internationally, she advocates for disaster prevention measures from a unique viewpoint. She has served on various national and local committees, including the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s ‘Earthquake Research Promotion Headquarters Policy Committee’ and the Japan Meteorological Agency’s ‘Emergency Earthquake Warning Evaluation and Improvement Study Group.’ She also works widely on disaster prevention education in collaboration with various companies and organizations. During disasters, they appear as experts on various news programs, including NHK, TV Asahi, and Nippon TV.
Chapter 1: What is Scenario3 for Home Evacuation?
Prepare an emergency kit to handle a prolonged evacuation. After an earthquake, it might take time to restore services in your area, or roads could be blocked by landslides caused by typhoons. To be ready, stock up on essential supplies for yourself and your family.
For major disasters like the Nankai Trough earthquake, experts recommend having an emergency kit with at least one week’s worth of supplies.
Chapter 2: What Supplies Should You Stockpile?
For example, a one-week supply for two adults would include the following:
| English | Japanese |
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Portable gas stove
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カセットコンロ |
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7 gas canisters
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ガズボンベ（7本）
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Water: 2L × 6 bottles × 4 cases (about 3L per person per day)
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水 2L×6本×4箱（1人1日3L程度）
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18 cans of meat, vegetables, beans, etc.
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肉・野菜・豆などの缶詰×18缶
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18 packs of instant foods like curries
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カレーなどのレトルト食品×18個
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14 packs of instant foods like pasta sauces
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パスタソースなどのレトルト食品×14
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2 bags of rice (2kg each)
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米2kg×2袋
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14 servings of powdered soup, instant miso soup, and ready-to-eat soups
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粉末スープ、即席味噌汁、レトルトスープなどを14食分
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14 packs of pre-cooked rice
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パックご飯×14個
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2 packs of dried noodles (300g each of ramen, udon, soba, somen, and 600g of pasta)
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乾麺（ラーメン・うどん・そば・そうめん各300g×2袋、パスタ600g×2袋）
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Drinks (vegetable juice, shelf-stable milk, soy milk, fruit juice, etc.)
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飲み物（野菜ジュース、常温の牛乳、豆乳、果物ジュースなど）
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Fruits (long-lasting and high in water content)
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果物（日持ちして水分を多く含んでいる物を常に欠かさない）
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Disposable containers (plates, cups, chopsticks, spoons, forks, etc.)
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使い捨て容器（皿、カップ、箸、スプーン、フォークなど）
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First aid supplies and regular medications
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救急用品、常備薬など
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Underwear and clothing
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下着、衣類
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Portable toilet
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簡易トイレ
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Toilet paper and tissues
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トイレットペーパー、ティッシュ
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Liquid toothpaste
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液体ハミガキ
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Lanterns and headlamps
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ランタン、ヘッドライト
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Portable charger
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ポータブル充電器
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Food
Also, keep long-lasting items like dried fruits, canned vegetables and fruits, and juices that provide vitamins and minerals. Having snacks like chocolate and biscuits is also a good idea. Some items, like KAGOME’s “Vegetables for One Day” juice, can be stored for a long time. This juice lasts 5.5 years and provides 350g of vegetables in one can, making it easy to get your daily nutrition.
Many people also eat bread as a staple food, not just rice. The TRIEM Emergency Ready-to-Eat Bread is a disaster food set that can be stored for 7 years. It comes in various flavors like blueberry and maple, and you can eat it straight from the package without needing water or heat. Additionally, consider stocking up on long-lasting items like cereal and muffins as alternatives to rice.
Additionally, KAGOME’s “Vegetable Soup” is preservative-free yet can be stored for 5.5 years. Paired with bread or pasta, it makes for a satisfying meal.
Tailor your menu to your family’s needs. For example:
Day 1:
- Breakfast: Cereal with shelf-stable milk, and fruit
- Lunch: Pasta
- Dinner: Curry with rice
Day 2:
- Breakfast: Bread with soup, and fruit
- Lunch: Ramen
- Dinner: Canned food with rice
Creating a menu like this can help make your preparations clearer and more organized.
Portable Toilet
When the water supply stops, toilets can’t be used as usual. In heavy rains, drainage systems in apartments might also back up. To prepare for these situations, it’s recommended to stockpile portable toilets. For example, the Sanitary Clean is a great option. It has an absorbent sheet attached to the bag, so you can easily tie the bag closed without adding deodorizer or solidifier. This makes it easy to handle waste hygienically, even when utilities are down, without getting your hands dirty.
Chapter 3: Things to Consider When Preparing
1. Rotational Stockpiling at Home
When you buy a lot of supplies, you need storage space, and it’s easy to forget about expiration dates, making management challenging. A method called “rotational stockpiling” involves buying extra amounts of your regular groceries and replacing them as you use them. This way, you always have enough food ready for emergencies. Since most households do this naturally, the key is to start by checking how much food you already have at home. If you already have a week’s worth of supplies, you’re also prepared for a disaster.
2. Storage Location
Consider where to store emergency supplies based on your home’s disaster risks. If you live in an area at risk of landslides, tsunamis, or flooding from heavy rain, you might need to evacuate. One option is to ask your local shelter to store some of your essentials in advance. If that’s not possible, you could arrange to store them with relatives or friends who live in safer areas. For significant disaster risks like a major earthquake, using a storage unit to keep valuable items safe might be a good idea. If you’re facing a disaster with some warning, like a typhoon or heavy rain, move items you don’t want to lose to water damage to the second floor if possible.
3. Family Needs
What you need for evacuation depends on who is with you. If you have a baby, stock up on formula, water, and baby food. For older children, keep some of their favorite snacks like candy or chocolate. For elderly family members with swallowing difficulties, store easy-to-eat foods like soups and porridges. Don’t forget to include regular medications and denture cleaners. For pets, get a portable cage and a simple toilet, and make sure your pet is used to them.
Chapter 4: Summary
To ensure a comfortable evacuation during a disaster, it is recommended to have at least one week’s worth of supplies. In addition to food and water, remember to prepare items specific to the needs of babies, elderly family members, and pets. Pay attention to rotational stockpiling and storage locations as well. By preparing these essentials, you can stay safe and comfortable in an emergency. Don’t neglect preparation—take the necessary steps to protect the safety of your entire family.
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