Earthquake and Tsunami Policy

Earthquake and Tsunami Policy

2022-2024

Kobe City information

Earthquake location and strength information

Hyogo E-Net Natural disaster information app (Android)

Hyogo E-Net Natural disaster information app (Apple)

Information for Parents

DSKI has full procedures in place for what to do in an earthquake and tsunami. Practise drills take place three times a year and our policy is regularly reviewed to ensure it is up to date and compliant with local authority guidelines.

We ask that all families are aware of our policy and that all emergency contacts and designated student pick-up persons are correct and up to date. If unsure please contact the school office. We will keep all students under care with DSKI staff if there was a natural disaster until either parents or the designated pick up person arrives to collect the children, no matter how long it may take. Please note - we won't release children to anyone who is not the designated pick-up person. If you ask a friend or neighbour to collect your child and they are not listed on our emergency pick-up form, we will not hand them over.

If we evacuate DSKI we will email all families to inform them that we have relocated to the emergency shelter at Rokko Island elementary school. If the internet is down, we will call your emergency contact number or SMS you. 

If power is down and there is no internet or phone, please meet us at Rokko Island elementary school as we will be there under such circumstances.

We advise all families to familiarise themselves with the location of the emergency shelter we would use at Rokko Island elementary school if we ever had to evacuate DSKI and how to get to the north gate (see map below).

We strongly recommend that all families download the Hyogo E-Net app (links above) for warnings, information and emergency communication.

We recommend all families to have home supplies of food, water, medical supplies, diapers and sanitary products as needed, emergency use toilets, torches and transistor radio receivers with spare batteries, to last for at least 3 days.

Policy and Procedures

Building evacuation

Following an earthquake and once the building is safe all students and staff will evacuate to the yard. We will assemble here to wait out any aftershocks then either move back inside if all is considered safe or to Rokko Island elementary school. 

When we would evacuate the building as being unsafe and relocate to the emergency shelter at the Rokko Island elementary school

• No power

• The principal is unable to be sure about the structural integrity of the building following a strong earthquake.

The emergency shelter at Rokko Island elementary school and emergency supplies

If the DSKI building is unsafe we will evacuate to Rokko Island elementary school. We have an arrangement with them whereby they will accommodate all our staff and students if the need ever arises. We will leave DSKI and enter their campus via the North gate and assemble under the atrium. 

Route from DSKI to the Rokko Island Elementary School North Gate

Rokko Island elementary school North Gate	Rokko Island elementary school Atrium

As an emergency shelter it has enough food, water, milk, diapers, thermal blankets, emergency toilets, sanitary products, communication systems and batteries so there is no need for DSKI to keep this stock nor take any supplies to the emergency shelter. DSKI will keep 50 litres of water and 50 long life food bars in long term storage in case of extreme emergency.

The Rokko Island elementary school principal and vice principal will host an annual information session for DSKI staff, to visit the school and see the emergency resources and rooms which will be used and also hear directly the experiences of the principal and vice principal in the Hanshin and Fukushima earthquakes.

On the anniversary of the Hanshin earthquake (17th January) the school opens up all its emergency supplies for the school children to see and feel safe. DSKI will join this so our students can also see the supplies and feel safe that they will be cared for. DSKI parents are also welcome to join.

Communication 

With the local authorities it will be via the emergency broadcast radio in the school office, via normal radio open to the public and through the Hyogo E-Net app. 

The school will keep two hard copy folders of parents' emergency contact details and designated people to pick up students if parents are not able to get to DSKI or the emergency shelter. There are mobile phone battery packs in the folders for use with the school mobile phones. Parents will be communicated with via email but if the internet is down we will use emergency contact numbers  to call or SMS. 

Access to Rokko Island 

This should still be possible even with a magnitude 9 earthquake due to reinforcement work on the bridge. However this is not guaranteed so if the bridge is compromised, food, water and other essential supplies will be delivered by helicopter or ship until the island is reconnected to the mainland. 

School Trips

Students off campus on a school trip should proceed to the nearest emergency assembly area and/or follow the instructions of emergency services. The trip coordinator should contact the principal either by phone or SMS. The school will communicate with families who are on a trip, either to let them know the process for collection of children or to put the parents in touch directly with the trip coordinator. 

Saturday School

Saturday school will follow the same policy as day school, but the decision maker will be the Saturday School Coordinator unless the principal is on site.

Tsunami information

The Japanese government has calculated that a magnitude 9 earthquake in the Nankai trough which results in a tsunami due to uplift in the subduction zone, it will take 100 minutes for the tsunami wave to arrive in the Kobe area. The map below shows the areas which will be affected. Earthquakes outside of the Nankai trough are caused by fault slip and will not result in a tsunami.

The map also shows the location of public announcement speakers for tsunami alert information and the location of shelters on Rokko Island.

Kobe city tsunami affected areas and warning speaker locations	Rokko Island tsunami affected areas and warning speaker locations

Processes

When an earthquake happens Take action at the first indication of an earthquake Shout, take cover and get students to duck under desks or tables. Head down, hands clasped at the back of the neck or head Staff to open doors in the classroom then take cover themselves Stay and face away from windows or glass doors Under no circumstances are staff to leave students unattended.

 

After the earthquake has passed Teachers and students will stay in the duck and cover position until the leave building instruction has been announced by the principal Principal will check the building for damage. Office manager will check then report to SLT if the principal is away. Once the building is checked, leave building can be announced and any damage information given out. Staff and students assemble outside on the yard to allow any aftershocks to pass and for a full damage assessment to happen. Following this the all clear will be announced. Office manager to monitor emergency radio and communication from Kobe City to see if there is a tsunami alert or any further information. Staff and students will then stay on the yard until all clear then either re enter the building or evacuate depending on the below scenarios.

All clear and no tsunami alert All clear and building is safe - no evacuation is needed Staff and students return to their rooms and follow instructions given by the principal. Principal and office manager to communicate with Kobe regarding any further information Further instructions to depend on the situation and further information from Kobe Due to damage to the school building or uncertainty of the building condition the principal orders an evacuation  Students move to the Rokko Island emergency shelter - at the Rokko Island elementary school Staff will need to be aware of all escape routes in case of obstacles blocking the main route Teachers and students walk out in single file. Early years uses the EY gate, primary school uses the main gate. Homeroom teachers take over responsibility for students on the green patch before they leave the campus if students were with a specialist teacher.  When specialist teachers have handed over the students they do a final sweep of the building to ensure no students are left behind. They then confirm all clear at the office and join the staff and students.  Office manager to take emergency contacts, pick up information, school mobile phone and spare battery packs. Do not re-enter the building unless instructed by the principal On route to the emergency shelter staff need to check for and take any action on any hazards eg damaged road surface or buildings On arrival at the emergency shelter Classes are grouped grade-wise and homeroom teachers to take a roll call to ensure all students are accounted for Staff to check students for any injuries  Any missing students must be reported to the principal immediately The students and staff are to stay at the emergency shelter and follow directions of the emergency services Students will be kept in the care of DSKI staff until a parent, guardian or nominated pick-up person arrives to collect children  All children picked up, a log will be kept of when and by whom.

All clear but tsunami alert Speakers on Rokko Island and the Hyogo E-Net app will announce a tsunami alert. Evacuation to Fashion Museum Atrium Staff will need to be aware of all escape routes in case of obstacles blocking the main route Teachers and students walk out in single file. Early years uses the EY gate, primary school uses the main gate. Homeroom teachers take over responsibility for students before they leave the campus if students were with a specialist teacher.  When specialist teachers have handed over the students they do a final sweep of the building to ensure no students are left behind. They then confirm all clear at the office and join the staff and students.  Principal and office manager remain in the office until the building all clear is given by specialist teachers. Office manager to take emergency contacts, pick up information, school mobile phone and spare battery packs. Assembly point All school to assemble in the fashion museum atrium If the fashion museum atrium is not possible due to damage then the students will go to Rokko Island elementary school Classes are grouped grade-wise and homeroom teachers to take a roll call to ensure all students are accounted for Staff to check students for any injuries  Any missing students must be reported to the principal immediately Speakers on Rokko Island and the Hyogo E-Net app will announce the all clear School principal will make a decision if the school building is safe to return to or not Safe to return Staff and students to stay in their rooms and follow instructions given by the principal Principal and office manager to communicate with Hyogo regarding possible tsunami alert and any further information Not safe to return Teachers will guide their classes to the emergency shelter at the Rokko Island elementary school Classes are grouped grade-wise and homeroom teachers to take a roll call on arrival to ensure all students are accounted for Staff to check students for any injuries  Any missing students must be reported to the principal immediately The students and staff are to stay at the emergency shelter and follow directions of the emergency services Students will be kept in the care of DSKI staff until a parent, guardian or nominated pick-up person arrives to collect children  All children picked up, a log will be kept of when and by whom.