[For Seniors] Typhoon Quiz: Disaster Preparedness and Supplies That Help in an Emergency

The drainage ditch in front of the house

Because heavy rain often accompanies approaching typhoons, if fallen leaves or trash accumulate in the gutters and storm drains in front of your house, water may not flow properly, creating a risk of flooding on roads and on your property. Walking on flooded roads is especially dangerous for older adults due to risks such as slipping and falling. Therefore, as a vital flood-prevention measure, it’s important to clean the gutters around your home—within a reasonable, safe limit—while the weather is still good before the typhoon arrives.

Close tightly

When a typhoon is approaching, it’s extremely important to keep your windows firmly closed to protect your home from strong winds and flying debris. If you leave them even slightly open, powerful gusts can blow into the room, which is very dangerous as it may rip off the roof or send objects flying indoors. It can also let rainwater in, causing floors and furniture to get wet. If possible, close storm shutters or window shutters, and also close the curtains to help prevent glass shards from scattering in case a window breaks.

Lock up and turn off the electricity breaker.

When evacuating due to a typhoon, it is essential to lock up securely first to prevent flying debris from entering and to avoid damage to windows and doors from strong winds. Also, to prevent “rekindling fires upon power restoration” caused by toppled or wet appliances when electricity comes back after an outage, be sure to switch off the circuit breaker before evacuating. For added safety, close the main gas valve as well.

Keep the bathtub filled with water.

If power outages or water supply interruptions occur due to a typhoon, you may face difficulties from a shortage of household water needed for flushing toilets and washing hands or dishes. By filling your bathtub with plenty of water in advance, you can use it as household water in an emergency and avoid panic. However, it is not suitable for drinking, so be sure to secure separate drinking water, such as bottled water.

Prepare coins and small-denomination bills

During disasters such as typhoons, power outages can occur, making cashless payments like credit cards and e-money unusable. In addition, if registers can’t be used, stores may be unable to provide change. Therefore, it’s very important to prepare more small-denomination bills, such as 1,000-yen notes, and coins, such as 100-yen pieces, rather than large bills like 10,000-yen notes. To avoid trouble in an emergency, set some aside little by little in your emergency kit in advance.

Local evacuation sites and hazardous areas

When a typhoon approaches, you may need to evacuate suddenly. It is extremely important to regularly check your local hazard map and understand where it is safe to evacuate and which routes have poor drainage and are dangerous.

the eye of a typhoon

The hollow part at the center of a typhoon, where there are few clouds and the winds are weak, is called the eye of the typhoon. As a typhoon develops and strengthens, this eye becomes clearly visible even in images from space. When you enter the eye of a typhoon, the rain and wind may temporarily weaken and you may even see blue skies, but you must not let your guard down. Once the eye passes, ferocious winds will blow again from the opposite direction, so it is important to stay indoors in a safe place and not go outside until the typhoon has completely passed.