Soka University Disaster Countermeasures

Preparation for disaster

The school practices the following disaster measures.
  • Food supply during emergency ( for 2000 people x 3 meals x 2 days)
  • Conducting emergency drills
  • Distribution of guidebooks on disaster countermeasures
  • Implementation of the Safety Check System
  • Installation of AED, EVAC and CHAIR in campus

The earthquake-resistant stockpile warehouse placed at the Athletic Center stores food supplies that are sufficient for 2000 people for a period of 2 days. Emergency drills are conducted annually (January) in school and will provide training for the staff on how to react during actual emergencies. Emergency drills are also conducted annually (May) in both male and female dormitories.

On October 21, 2011 the school conducted its first joint emergency drill that involved the participation of both students and faculty and staff. The exercise was conducted with a simulation earthquake (intensity 6 lower) during school hours and a total of 4000 people participated. Students were able to experience the “smoke house,” a live rescue exercise, water-discharge exercise and using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) stationed at the refuge site at the No.1 Athletic Ground. This exercise is planned to be conducted once every 2 years, aimed at preparing students for catastrophic disasters and ensuring the safety of all personnel in school. Disaster measure guidebooks are also distributed to all students and staff for the initial response during a disaster. Furthermore, the Safety Check System was implemented in October 2011 to help confirm the safety of the students and staff. This system operates by sending notifications in form of e-mail or by phone call to students’ e-mail address, mobile phone address and mobile phone number. The student or staff then replies to the notification to confirm their safety. The system was tested during the emergency drill on October 21, 2011.

The system is able to function normally even in times of a large-scale disaster in Hachioji City as the server is positioned in both Eastern and Western Japan. The disaster emergency message service for the university enables students to inform their family members even at times during a disaster when communication may be difficult.

The school presently maintains AEDs at 29 locations (including dormitories off campus) and EVAC+CHAIRs at 10 locations.

AED (Automated External Defibrillator) Locations

The location of the 29 AED stationed in school are as following:
 
  1. 1st floor, Lecture Hall-A lobby
  2. 1st floor, Health Center treatment room
  3. 5th floor, Central Tower Emergency Center
  4. General Information Center at main gate
  5. In the office of Gakuyu-kai
  6. 1st floor, Engineering Building lobby
  7. 1st floor, Central Library lobby
  8. 1st floor, Athletic Center lobby
  9. 3rd floor, Athletic Center
  10. 1st floor, Soka Women’s College lobby
  11. 2nd floor, Ikeda Memorial Auditorium
  12. The entrance of the dormitory of track & field club
  13. Baseball clubhouse in World Ground
  14. 2nd floor, stairs by the Matsukaze Center
  15. Takiyama Dormitory
  16. Hoyuu Dormitory
  17. Yuukou Dormitory
  18. Keikan Dormitory
  19. Pioneer Hall
  20. Shirahagi Dormitory
  21. Asagiri Dormitory
  22. Youkou Dormitory
  23. Kahou Dormitory
  24. Ouka Dormitory
  25. Shoushun Dormitory
  26. Sunflower Hall (Dormitory)
  27. Cosmos Dormitory
  28. Asakaze Dormitory
  29. Kouyu Dormitory

Student Activities

The Emergency Lifesaving Club, an activity organization formed by students was founded in 2003. Their mission is to spread knowledge and skills for lifesaving and conducts lifesaving lectures a few times a year on campus. Students or staff that attend this lecture will become certified as an official Emergency Support Volunteer and will have their names registered with the Hachioji Fire Department. They will then participate in collaborations with the Hachioji Fire Department during earthquakes or typhoons where help is needed. This joint pact is the first of its kind in Hachioji City and similar cases are rarely seen in the country.

Community Solidarity

The university, as part of a community cooperation opened its No.1 Athletic Ground as a safety evacuation area and have places several guidance signs. As requested by Hachioji City, the same field is designated as an emergency helipad during a disaster.

The Consortium of Universities in Hachioji, formed by 23 universities in the city has arranged an agreement where all the universities would work in effort to assist in supplying stocks or necessities in times of a disaster. Soka University is the representative of the Northern block of Hachioji City, and will cooperate with neighboring universities within the block.