About 5.15 million people were stranded in the Tokyo metropolitan area when the Great East Japan Earthquake in March last year paralyzed major transport networks. The Cabinet Office estimates that if a major earthquake occurs directly beneath the capital - a temblor that would also severely affect neighboring Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba prefectures - about 9.89 million people will be unable to go home.
The guidelines urge companies to store three days' worth of food (nine meals) and water (nine liters) and a blanket for each employee. In addition, the companies are requested to keep additional supplies equivalent to 10 per cent of the recommended total on hand to help stranded people who are not their employees. Municipalities will offer their office buildings, assembly halls and schools to shelter stranded people, while entrance halls of consenting large stores and companies will be designated as temporary shelters.
In these shelters, about 3.3-square-metres should be set aside for every two people, and companies that shelter stranded people will have to stockpile three days' worth of food and water for them. East Japan Railway Co. plans to turn concourses and other areas of about 200 stations within 30 kilometers of JR Tokyo Station into temporary shelters that can accommodate up to 60,000 people. Municipal governments will ask administrators of various facilities and companies to offer assistance if disaster strikes.
Terminal stations are expected to become extremely congested as masses of stranded people try to make their way home. Disaster information will be shared through Twitter, Facebook and other websites to keep these people aware of developments and to guide them to nearby temporary shelters. After the initial chaos subsides, the guidelines call for bus and taxi companies to take pregnant women, and elderly and handicapped people home as a priority. As of the end of August, 21,050 convenience stores and family restaurants along major roads in the Tokyo metropolitan area had been designated as "support stations" for people returning home after a serious disaster. The stations will give people water and let them use their toilets.
LARGEST QUAKES -
Live Seismograms - Worldwide (update every 30 minutes)
This morning -
5.4 PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
5.2 FIJI REGION
Yesterday -
9/12/12 -
5.2 HINDU KUSH REGION, AFGHANISTAN
5.0 PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
5.5 SOLOMON ISLANDS
5.5 NEW BRITAIN REGION, P.N.G.
5.4 CRETE, GREECE
5.3 SOUTH INDIAN OCEAN
5.0 SOUTHWEST INDIAN RIDGE
9/11/12 -
5.3 SOUTH OF JAVA, INDONESIA
5.0 SOUTH OF JAVA, INDONESIA
5.0 SOUTH OF PANAMA
5.1 PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
5.0 SOUTH OF MARIANA ISLANDS
5.9 SOUTH OF MARIANA ISLANDS
5.1 SAN JUAN, ARGENTINA
5.5 KURIL ISLANDS
TROPICAL STORMS -
In the Atlantic -
- Tropical storm Nadine was located about 820 mi [1320 km] ENE of the Lesser Antilles. Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours and Nadine is expected to become a hurricane this morning. No threat to land.
In the East Pacific -
- Tropical storm Kristy was located about 375 mi [605 km] SSE of the southern tip of Baja California. Kristy should continue to move away from the southwestern coast of Mexico and then move to the south of the southern tip of Baja California. Any deviation to the north of the forecast track would require a tropical storm watch or warning for a portion of extreme southern Baja California. Otherwise, no threat to land.
In the West Pacific -
- Typhoon Sanba was located about 700 nm south-southeast of Kadena AB, Japan.
SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -
China - Thousands of people have been evacuated from Yiliang county, Southwest China's Yunnan Province, after torrential rain hit the earthquake-stricken area Monday and Tuesday, leading to mudslides, disrupting traffic and water supplies. The death toll, which was at 89, could rise as news trickles in from cut-off areas. More than 200,000 are believed to have been displaced following the magnitude 5.6 quakes.
HEALTH THREATS -
West Nile virus to hit US hard, CDC says - Health officials said Wednesday that they are convinced THIS WILL BE THE WORST YEAR FOR WEST NILE VIRUS DEATHS AND SEVERE ILLNESSES since the disease hit America's shores in 1999. Officials don't know is what is causing the big outbreak. Several say it could be this year's extreme combination of hot and dry weather.
CDC says West Nile activity may have peaked - Federal health officials said the worst of the nation's West Nile virus outbreak appears to be over but warned that cases will continue to add up at a pace on track to make 2012 a record year.
RECALLS & ALERTS
Ricotta cheese linked to Listeria outbreak
