Whether it’s a typhoon or an earthquake, the principle is the same: the longer it takes someone to evacuate, the earlier they need to start moving. And there are official systems set up specifically for this. Since you can’t use a system you don’t know about, let’s start there.
Two official systems you can use
The Cabinet Office refers to “elderly people, people with disabilities, and others who find it difficult to evacuate on their own during a disaster” as Residents Requiring Evacuation Assistance, and lists people with disabilities, elderly people, foreign residents, and pregnant or postpartum women, among others, as covered.
1. The List of Residents Requiring Evacuation Assistance — a municipal “obligation”
Under the 2013 amendment to the Basic Act on Disaster Management, compiling this list became a legal obligation for municipalities — a system born from the lessons of the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Being on the list means you’re included in routine monitoring, disaster drills, and safety-confirmation efforts during a disaster. In Okinawa City’s case, registration is done with the person’s own consent, and the list is managed under a duty of confidentiality.
2. The Individual Evacuation Plan — a municipal “best-effort obligation”
Under the 2021 amendment to the Basic Act on Disaster Management, creating Individual Evacuation Plans became a best-effort obligation for municipalities — a revision made in response to the extensive damage from events such as Typhoon No. 19 in 2019.
Okinawa City describes an Individual Evacuation Plan as “a plan documenting things such as where to evacuate to and what accommodations are needed.” Think of it as deciding in advance who will take the person where, and how, when the moment actually comes.
Here’s the key point: because it’s a best-effort obligation, not a mandatory one, how far along a municipality is varies. Waiting doesn’t guarantee your turn will come around. If this applies to you or someone in your family, reach out yourself.
Who to talk to
The point of contact is your municipality. The department in charge isn’t necessarily disaster prevention — it can be the welfare department, or the social welfare council.
In Okinawa City’s case, this runs as the “Disaster-Time Safe Evacuation Support Project,” and creating Individual Evacuation Plans is handled by the Okinawa City Council of Social Welfare. Eligibility is any of the following (Okinawa City’s own criteria):
- Certified as requiring nursing care level 3 or higher
- Holder of a Physical Disability Certificate, grade 1 or 2
- Holder of a Rehabilitation Certificate, grade A1 or A2
- Holder of a Mental Disability Certificate, grade 1
- Anyone else requiring particular consideration who wishes to receive support
Criteria differ by municipality. Even if none of the above applies to you, if you have concerns about evacuating, it’s worth reaching out. Ask your municipality’s welfare department, your local social welfare council, or your care manager.
About welfare shelters
For people for whom life at a general shelter would be difficult, welfare shelters exist.
In response to Typhoon No. 19 in 2019 and the 2021 amendment to the Basic Act on Disaster Management, the Cabinet Office revised its Guidelines for Securing and Operating Welfare Shelters in May 2021.
As covered in Evacuation Sites and Shelters Are Different, a welfare shelter, too, is opened by the city only after confirming safety and its capacity to receive people. It is not “somewhere you’re guaranteed a spot the moment you show up.” That’s exactly why consulting your municipality during ordinary times and having it reflected in an Individual Evacuation Plan pays off.
What you can prepare at home
Separate from these official systems, there are things worth doing on the household side.
Medication and medical information
As also covered in the island article (Japanese only), regular medication is the top priority.
- Keep your medication notebook (or a photo of it) somewhere you can grab it on the way out
- Always see your doctor with a few days to a week’s buffer on your regular medication
- Write down the contact details of your doctor, home-visit nurse, and care manager on paper too (assuming your phone becomes unusable in a power outage)
- Prepare a written note of allergies, existing conditions, and any accommodations needed (so others can explain on the person’s behalf if they can’t do so themselves)
If you use medical equipment that needs power
If you use home oxygen therapy, a ventilator, a suction device, or similar equipment, a power outage is directly life-threatening.
The portable power stations covered in the power outage article are one option, but first confirm with the equipment’s manufacturer or your medical provider what to do during a power outage. The power draw and emergency contact details are often set per device. It’s also reassuring to register for Okinawa Electric Power Company (OEPC)‘s power outage information before typhoon season starts.
Households with infants
- Formula, baby food, and diapers — some infants won’t accept anything but their usual brand. Keep extra
- Okinawa Prefecture gives 3 liters of drinking water per person per day, for 3 days, but budget separately for water used to prepare formula
- Liquid formula is useful during a power outage when you can’t heat water
- A baby carrier (frees both your hands, an advantage when evacuating)
- A copy or photo of the Maternal and Child Health Handbook
If you have elderly family members
- Spares and batteries for hearing aids, glasses, and dentures
- Adult diapers, care supplies
- A cane or walker (so it can also be used at a shelter)
- Heat measures. A power outage during Okinawa’s summer raises indoor temperature. Elderly people can be slow to notice this themselves, so people around them should make a point of offering fluids
Moving early is the only real countermeasure
For someone who takes time to evacuate, “let’s wait and see a bit longer” is the most dangerous call you can make.
For a typhoon, that means before entering the storm warning area. For an earthquake or tsunami, that means the moment you feel shaking. Deciding your destination and means of transport in advance, so you can act sooner — that’s the whole point of an Individual Evacuation Plan.
Always follow official up-to-date information and the evacuation information issued by your municipality for evacuation timing and decisions. When in doubt, act early, and on the side of safety.
What this article does not cover
Whether evacuation information is currently in effect, or whether welfare shelters are currently open, is not covered by this site. Whether a system applies to you, and the specific support available, differs by municipality. Always check with your municipality’s office.