Disaster preparedness: Unique challenges for families with children
Many natural disaster survivors with children faced unique challenges. A book compiling interviews with affected families with children has been published. We asked the author for tips for disaster preparedness for such households.
Protecting your little ones: Expert advice on disaster preparedness for families – 1/2
Many people were likely anxious on August 8, this year, when the 'Nankai Trough Earthquake Temporary Information' was issued, calling for caution against a major earthquake (the warning ended on August 15), or the latest one happened in Noto, Ishikawa, at 10:47 PM JST, 26 November 2024.
In Japan, disaster drills are held at kindergartens and elementary schools, and people are generally aware of disaster preparedness from a young age. However, those who have experienced disasters firsthand report facing unimaginable difficulties, according to a newly published book, 'The Latest Version: Disaster Preparedness Book for Families with Children - A Comprehensive Guide––Made with 1648 Affected Moms and Dads*' (Tomikawa 2024. Hereafter 'Disaster Preparedness for Families with Children').
We interviewed the author, Mami Tomikawa, a board member of the NPO MAMA-PLUG, about disaster preparedness for families with children.
* The original title: 冨川万美 (2024) '全災害対応！最新子連れ防災BOOK－－被災ママパパ1648人と作りました'. Tokyo: Shodensha (祥伝社).
Summary
What is disaster preparedness for families with children?
Voices of experience: Mothers share their evacuation stories with children
Finding the 'positive' in disaster management
What type of evacuation is best for my family?
'Evacuating at home': Prioritising safety and information
'Bosai' camping: A new approach to disaster preparedness
Can children cope with life without YouTube?
What is disaster preparedness for families with children?
Voices of experience: Mothers share their evacuation stories with children
Yumiko: In your recent book, you focus on disaster preparedness and evacuation for families with children. Does this include expectant parents as well?
Mami Tomikawa: Yes, absolutely. The book is for any family concerned about disasters, no matter the age of their children. While families with very young children, including those expecting a baby, often have heightened anxiety, every family faces unique challenges at different stages.
Y: It's surprising that despite widespread disaster preparedness efforts in Japan, there haven't been many resources specifically for families with children. That's what makes the stories in your new book, 'Disaster Preparedness Book for Families with Children' so compelling. These stories, drawn from real-life experiences, provide invaluable insights and a stark reminder of the difficulties encountered during disasters.
MT: The idea to include personal stories actually came about in a really unexpected way. We were running a workshop for families who had experienced evacuations, and some of the mothers there suddenly started sharing their stories.
MAMA-PLUG's acitivity began by supporting families who evacuated to the Kanto region after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Many of them had young children and had left their jobs and childcare arrangements behind. We partnered with local authorities to organise workshops to help these families.
The workshop involved creating handmade tote bags to sell online. To make it easier for the mothers to focus, we arranged childcare in a separate room with the help of volunteer nursery staff. Even though several months had passed since the disaster, this was the first time many mothers had been apart from their children. They felt they couldn't show their vulnerability in front of them.
During the workshop, the participants began sharing their experiences. They spoke of the fear and the difficulties they faced. Some admitted they were only just starting to process the trauma, while others wept as they recounted their stories.
Y: It sounds like they were constantly under stress.
MT: Exactly. Hearing their stories firsthand was eye-opening for many of us.
They shared stark realities like, 'There's little support for families with children,' and 'Don't expect to find donated clothes in your child's size.' These specific details really struck us. We realised how important it was to share these experiences so other families could be better prepared.
That's how this project came about. Those voices were so powerful that we felt driven to create a book* to amplify them.
* 'Disaster Preparedness Handbook for Families with Children: Made by 812 Affected Moms' (2012). The original title is '被災ママ812人が作った 子連れ防災手帖'
Y: It's often difficult for people to talk about their disaster experiences. I've seen this firsthand while reporting in disaster-affected areas when I was working as a journalist at a paper. You've managed to gather a remarkable number of stories.
MT: Yes, we have. We didn't actually set out to conduct interviews, but these stories just started emerging organically. It happened when families who had been through these experiences came together and started talking with each other. When we were creating the book, we wanted to encourage people to share openly, so we assured everyone that we would protect them from any media attention. We promised we wouldn't connect them with any journalists, and we guaranteed complete anonymity for everyone who contributed their stories.
Finding the 'positive' in disaster management
Y: Could you tell us more about ‘Proactive Disaster Preparedness’, the initiative led by the NPO MAMA-PLUG?
MT: Hearing from parents who evacuated with their children was a real wake-up call. We realised how unprepared we were. Many people tend to avoid disaster preparedness because it focuses on negative possibilities. They might think, 'What if I buy all this emergency gear and never use it?' or 'I should talk to my family about this, but who has the time?' That's how we call our approach 'Proactive' because it encourages people to take concrete steps to address these concerns and overcome that inertia.
Y: Living in Japan, we tend to assume we're prepared for natural disasters, but often that's just an illusion.
MT: Exactly. It's easy to think, 'Oh, that could happen,' but until you've experienced a power outage or water shortage, it's hard to grasp the reality.
When the potential consequences are explained in detail, we start to recognise our own vulnerabilities. We say things like, 'We'd really struggle with that,' or 'My child would need this.'
Y: So, hearing those firsthand accounts really increased your awareness and motivation?
MT: Yes, definitely. Until a disaster disrupts our own lives, it's easy to feel complacent. Proactive Disaster Preparedness encourages people to think concretely about their needs and take action, during things are calm. We collaborate with DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Team) doctors and pharmacists to ensure our advice is accurate and practical.
What type of evacuation is best for my family?
'Evacuating at home': Prioritising safety and information
Y: Your book suggests that families with children should consider 'evacuating at home.' Could you elaborate on this?
MT: While it's not exclusive to families with children, it's important to remember that public shelters are not designed for comfort. They are a temporary refuge for safety, not a place to live long-term. Local authorities also advise this. Unless your home is unsafe due to collapse or tsunami damage, we recommend staying put, even if utilities are disrupted. The term 'evacuating at home' can be a bit confusing, though. So, I don't think we need to be too strict about the exact wording here. The meaning is what's important.
Y: Some of the experiences shared in the book describe the challenges of living in a shelter with a child.
MT: That's a common sentiment, unfortunately. While Japanese people are often perceived as reserved, the stress of a disaster can amplify even minor annoyances. This happens in every disaster.
For example, a child crying at night, which might normally be tolerable, can become unbearable for someone already sleep-deprived and on edge. What might usually be met with understanding can trigger frustration in a disaster setting. Also, there's the risk of infectious diseases spreading in crowded shelters. Many families with children choose to avoid shelters altogether for these reasons.
When evacuating at home, it's crucial to stay informed as access to information can be limited. Some people have missed out on essential supplies distribution because they weren't aware of when and where. Maintain contact with friends, family, and neighbours to ensure you receive critical updates.
If staying at home becomes too difficult, consider other options. You might seek shelter with friends or family who live outside the affected area consider staying with them temporarily. For example, if your spouse is Japanese, you could go back to your in-laws' home. Some families have even used camping gear to create a temporary shelter.
'Bosai' camping: A new approach to disaster preparedness
Y: Your book also suggests 'Bosai' (Disaster Preparedness in Japanese) camping as a way to prepare for evacuation.
MT: Yes, if you have camping gear, it's definitely worth considering! Families who utilised camping during the disaster showed remarkable resilience. They were quick to switch to camping after the disaster and overcame the challenges of evacuation life.
Y: So, it is like turning the evacuation into a camping adventure?
MT: Exactly! One family had a wonderful approach. The father announced, 'We're going camping for a week!' and set up their tent and all their gear in the garden. They ended up camping for two weeks. His positive attitude really helped the children cope, and they even invited the grandparents to join them.
Children who got through with camping have few memories of feeling frightened during that time. It's a fantastic example of how a proactive and optimistic mindset can shield children from trauma, even in the face of a disaster.
Y: And having camping equipment means you can cook your own meals.
MT: Yes, exactly. Even if it's difficult to replicate that level of positivity, it's reassuring to know you have resources and skills you can rely on.
Yumiko Horie
NPO MMA-PLUG encourages a 'disaster preparedness picnic' to confirm your preparedness ©MAMA-PLUG
Can children cope with life without YouTube?
Y: More than ten years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake. During this period, the number of natural disasters has clearly increased. There have been many changes in the disaster preparedness measures taken by citizens.
MT: There have been both positive developments and challenges. On the positive side, public awareness of disaster preparedness has significantly increased, likely due to the increased frequency of disasters. When we began our activities after the Earthquake in 2011, there was a complete lack of disaster preparedness and support for families, particularly those with young children. And the perspectives of women were completely overlooked. We struggled to convey the importance of this overlooked aspect.
We were determined to raise awareness of this issue. Over ten years have passed, and we have experienced various disasters during this time. Living in Japan, we are constantly reminded of the need for preparedness. I believe people are finally realising that disaster preparedness is essential to life here. Of course, challenges remain, but the environment is now more receptive to the ‘Proactive Disaster Preparedness’ activities we promote.
On the other hand, some things will continue to become more difficult. In particular, the impact of the convenience offered by digital technology. At the time of the Earthquake in 2011, smartphones were relatively new*, and not everyone used them for both work and personal life as they do now. Today, children are digital natives, living lives inseparable from the digital world. *The iPhone was launched in Japan in 2008.
Y: What is it about, for example?
MT: One example is the changing nature of children's play. Traditional disaster preparedness often involved teaching children hand games to keep them occupied during evacuations. However, today's children are immersed in the digital world, and many are glued to their smartphones and YouTube. This means conventional wisdom is becoming less applicable. When disaster strikes, the digital world, including children's entertainment, can disappear in an instant.
While some children may simply lose interest in activities when their digital tools are unavailable, for others, this can cause significant stress and even psychological distress. If this resonates with your own household, it's advisable to be prepared. For instance, ensure devices are fully charged and keep spare rechargeable batteries on hand.
Continued in the next issue. See below.
Yumiko Horie
