TMG, Hamura City, and HinodeTown Hold Joint Disaster Prevention Drill

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and municipal governments of Hamura City and Hinode Town held a joint comprehensive disaster prevention drill for this fiscal year, from Aug. 29 to 31 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, and in Hamura and Hinode, both western Tokyo.

 

Governor Koike attended a “deliberation drill at the headquarters” held at TMG on Aug. 29. She also attended a stage event held at Miyanoshita Sports Park (in Hamura) on Aug. 31, together with Hamura Mayor Hashimoto Hirotaka and Hinode Mayor Higashi Toru.

At the stage event, the governor said, “Sudden torrential rains and a major earthquake striking directly beneath the capital could occur at any time. I myself experienced various hardships during the Great Hanshin Earthquake. I hope everyone will use today’s disaster prevention drill to prepare together for disasters and try to always maintain a safety mindset.”

 

In her post-drill review, the governor noted, “Each organization demonstrated the results of their daily training. The local junior fire brigade, women’s disaster prevention association, neighborhood associations, and volunteer fire-fighting brigades all participated actively, making this an excellent drill.
“We also welcomed participants from three overseas cities: Seoul, Taipei, and New Taipei. This was valuable from the perspective of sharing knowledge and expertise with them for emergency preparedness,” she emphasized.

She also pointed out, “In recent years, disasters have occurred frequently across the nation. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is implementing disaster mitigation measures such as promoting seismic retrofitting of houses, constructing non-combustible buildings, and strengthening lifelines.”

 

Furthermore, to address risks peculiar to large cities, such as the intensification of wind and flood damage and the severity of heatwaves, TMG is actively advancing capital defense initiatives to protect the lives and livelihoods of Tokyo residents, including the construction of flood control reservoirs and the provision of cooling shelters for citizens, she pointed out. 

 “I urge everyone to cherish the spirit of ‘Always be prepared’ and use today’s drill as an opportunity to take further steps in your own disaster preparedness,” the governor stressed.