Are you ready for the next disaster?

Today is both Disaster Prevention Day and Disaster Preparedness Inspection Day. It is a day to check that your emergency bag and supplies are fully stocked and in working order.

When we talk about disaster prevention, preparedness and awareness, a lot of people equate that to earthquake preparedness. However, there are many different types of disasters in Japan. And where you live in Japan should greatly impact what is in your preparedness kit.

For example, we live near a large river which often burst it's banks in the early Showa period.  With the result that people who have lived in the area for more than 50 years tend to have boats in their garden! And although it hasn't flooded in recent years, we have life jackets in our emergency supplies. 

People who live in mountainous areas may have ropes in their supplies, similarly people who live near active volcanoes may have gas masks in their supplies. What items do you have in your preparedness kit that might not be in every emergency kit around the country?