Emergency Preparedness : NEO
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Emergency Preparedness

The next time disaster strikes, you may not have much time to act. Prepare NOW for a sudden emergency. Learn how to protect yourself and cope with disaster by planning ahead. This checklist will help you get started. Discuss these ideas with your family, then prepare an emergency plan.

Post the plan where everyone will see it - on the refrigerator or bulletin board. For additional information about how to prepare for hazards in your community, contact your unit NEO representative.

This Emergency Preparedness page contains the following information:


Emergency phone numbers
Fire/Ambulance/Police
  DSN Commercial number from Japan Commercial number from U.S.
Emergency 119 (on base) 0827-79-4001 011-81-827-79-4001
Staff Duty Officer 253-4001 0827-79-4001 011-81-827-79-4001
Desk Sergeant 253-3303 or 3055 0827-79-3303 or 3055 011-81-827-79-3303 or 3055
Japan Authorities
Fire N/A 0827-22-1321 N/A
Police N/A 0827-24-0110 N/A
Ambulance N/A 0827-22-1321 N/A

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Preparing an emergency plan

The following guidelines will help you create an emergency plan.

  • Meet with household members. Discuss with children the dangers of fire, severe weather, earthquakes, and other emergencies.
  • Discuss how to respond to each disaster that could occur.
  • Discuss what to do about power outages and personal injuries.
  • Draw a floor plan of your home. Mark escape routes from each room.
  • Learn how to turn off the electricity at main switches.
  • Off base learn how to shut off the water, gas, etc.
  • Post emergency telephone numbers near telephones.
  • Teach children how and when to call the base emergency numbers.
  • Instruct household members to turn on the radio or TV for emergency information.
  • Pick one local friend or relative for family members to call if separated by disaster (it is often easier to call outside than within the affected area).
  • Pick two meeting places. A place near your home in case of a fire. A place outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home after a disaster.
  • Take a Basic First Aid and CPR Class.
  • Keep family records in a water- and fire-proof container.

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Preparing a disaster supplies kit

Assemble supplies you might need in an evacuation. Store them in an easy-to-carry container, such as a backpack or duffle bag. Goal is self sufficiency for 5 days.

  • A supply of water (one gallon per person per day). Store water in sealed, unbreakable containers. Identify the storage date and replace every six months.
  • You should have food and water for 5 days.
  • A supply of non-perishable packaged or canned food and a non-electric can opener.
  • A change of clothing, raingear, sturdy shoes, and gloves.
  • Blankets or sleeping bags.
  • A first aid kit and prescription medications.
  • An extra pair of glasses.
  • Flash light, chemlights, hand crank radio or transistor radio.
  • Credit cards and cash - minimum $100 (small bills with quarters and yen).
  • An extra set of car keys.
  • A list of family physicians.
  • A list of important family information; the style and serial number of medical devices, such as pacemakers.
  • Special items for infants, elderly, or disabled family members.
  • E-tool/small shovel.
  • Duct tape.
  • Extra hygiene products.
  • Leatherman.
  • Empty sand bags.
  • Heavy plastic sheeting (pre-cut)
  • Respirators - available at the Station's Safety Office (253-4303)

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Preparing an escape plan

In a fire or other emergency, you may need to evacuate your house or apartment on a moment's notice. You should be ready to get out fast. Here are some tips:

  • Develop an escape plan by drawing a floor plan of your residence. Using a black or blue pen, show the location of doors, windows, stairways, and large furniture. Indicate the location of emergency supplies (Disaster Supplies Kit), fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, collapsible ladders, first aid kits, and utility shutoff points.
  • Use a colored pen to draw a broken line charting at least two escape routes from each room. Finally, mark a place outside of the home where household members should meet in case of fire. Be sure to include important points outside, such as garages, patios, stairways, elevators, driveways, and porches. If your home has more than two floors, use an additional sheet of paper.
  • Practice emergency evacuation drills with all household members at least two times each year.

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Fire safety guidelines

Here are some additional guidelines of fire safety.

  • Plan escape routes out of each room.
  • Teach family members to stay low to the ground when escaping from a fire.
  • Teach family members never to open doors that are hot. In a fire, feel the bottom of the door with the palm of your hand. If it is hot, do not open the door. Find another way out.
  • Install smoke detectors. Clean and test smoke detectors once a month.
  • Change batteries at least once a year.
  • Keep a whistle in each bedroom to awaken household members in case of fire.
  • Keep flashlight near beds.
  • Check electrical outlets. Do not overload outlets. Purchase a fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type).
  • Have a collapsible ladder on each upper floor of your house.

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Home hazard hunt

In a disaster, ordinary items in the home can cause injury and damage. Anything that can move, fall, break, or cause a fire is a potential hazard.

  • Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections.
  • Fasten shelves securely.
  • Place large, heavy objects on lower shelves.
  • Hang pictures and mirrors away from beds.
  • Brace overhead light fixtures.
  • Secure water heater. Strap to wall studs.
  • Repair cracks in ceilings or foundations.
  • Store weed killers, pesticides, and flammable products away from heat sources.
  • Place oily polishing rags or waste in covered metal cans.
  • Clean and repair chimneys, flue pipes, vent connectors, and gas vents.

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Things to do before leaving residence
  • Turn of all lights and unplug all electrical appliances except refrigerators and freezers. Do NOT turn off the main switch.
  • Turn off all water faucets.
  • Close windows and shutters and lower the window blinds.
  • For families with pets and have sponsors remaining behind, leave ample supply of food and water for pets.
  • Post an inventory of all household goods and personal effects in a prominent place in the kitchen.
  • If a family member will stay behind in Iwakuni, keys to the family quarters should be left with him/her. If all members of the family are to be evacuated, the quarters should be locked; keys tagged; and deposited at the embarkation point.

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Automobile issues
  • Vehicles should be deposited at designated points. Designated personnel will accept keys at the embarkation point.
  • If a family member stays behind, leave the keys and proof of ownership with him/her. If everyone is evacuating, keys should be tagged with the following information: license plate number; make; color; year of vehicle; and location of vehicle.

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Household Goods/POVs

Arrangements will be made to ship your goods and POVs at a later date, if the situation allows. Include an inventory of household goods and POV documentation in your evacuation kit, and accept that you may have to file a claim for reimbursement.

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Preparing an emergency Car Kit

Here is a list of the things needed in an emergency car kit.

  • Let others know when you left and where you are going.
  • Battery powered radio and extra batteries
  • Flashlight and extra batteries/chemlights
  • Blanket
  • Booster cables
  • Fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type)
  • First aid kit and manual
  • Bottled water and non-perishable high energy foods, such as granola bars, raisins and peanut butter.
  • Maps
  • Shovel
  • Tire repair kit and pump
  • 2 cans of fix-a-flat
  • Flares
  • All necessary tools for changing a tire

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