Are you ready for an earthquake?
Japan is a country that has learnt, the hard way, to be prepared for disaster. And on March 11, this preparedness was crucial in saving many lives.
March 31, 2011 / 11:36 IST
By: Jasodhara Banerjee/ Forbes India
Japan is a country that has learnt, the hard way, to be prepared for disaster. And on March 11, this preparedness was crucial in saving many lives. High Awareness: The country marks September 1 as Disaster Prevention Day. That's the anniversary of the 1923 Tokyo earthquake that left 100,000 people dead. The scale of the devastation had made Japan consider moving its capital.
Training, Training, Training: Preparing for an earthquake is a lesson that begins early in school. Children learn how to slip a padded cover on to their heads and duck beneath the nearest desk. Those who are at home have been trained over the years to keep the
front door open in case they have to quickly move outdoors.
Building Norms: The seismic standards of constructions in Japan are among the strictest in the world. People who live or work in the upper floors of buildings know that the structures are quake resistant: They will sway violently, but probably stay upright. This is the case with buildings in cities such as Tokyo.
Buildings constructed in recent times
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