In light of the recent 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that devastated several Japanese cities, it is natural to ask what could have been done to prevent the damage caused by such a disaster. According to Huffington Post, “The number of dead or missing in Japan’s disaster now exceeds 18,000.” 

Many of the survivors are homeless because the tsunami washed away their houses. Others are going hungry as emergency supplies dwindle and stores run out of inventory with no way to restock. The immeasurable human damage coupled with the incalculable economic damage marks this as one of the most tragic natural disasters in history. 

The question remains however. Could Japan have been more prepared for this disaster? It would have been difficult for Japan to be more prepared than it was. In fact, the New York recently reported,  “Hidden inside the skeletons of high-rise towers, extra steel bracing, giant rubber pads and embedded hydraulic shock absorbers make modern Japanese buildings among the sturdiest in the world during a major earthquake.” Japan, being extremely prone to earthquakes and other natural disasters, places great emphasis on its building safety regulations and it is this stringent safety code, which prevented the injuries and deaths of thousands more. 

We are a globalized community. When disaster strikes, we should not simply blow it off because it did not occur in our backyard. There are Japanese international students on campus at De Anza who have been affected by the tragedy. There are also organizations on campus whose goal is to raise awareness of the situation and help the survivors of the disasters. 

Act-J is an De Anza organization of an active group of students working to raise funds to help Japan. They have already raised over $4,000 by placing donation boxes in various restaurants. “Many of the survivors, not only in the area where the earthquake and tsunami happened but around Tokyo [as well], are in dangerous situations because the nuclear plants leaked high levels of radiation,” an Act-J member said. They have already raised over $4,000 by placing donation boxes in Japanese restaurants. 

Japan is not as remote as I had assumed. Bodies are being found everyday. The Bay Area is also earthquake prone. Unfortunately, we do not have an adequate amount of earthquake and disaster prevention protocols in place to prevent casualties and other damage. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake was a 6.9 magnitude earthquake and resulted in 63 deaths and the collapse of the Oakland Bay Bridge. 

We were not sufficiently prepared for an earthquake then and over 20 years later, we have yet to be as prepared as possible; we can reduce the number of causalities in future disasters by learning from Japan’s tragedy. Thousands of public buildings in California are vulnerable to life-threatening damage when and earthquake occurs. Countless homes are ill equipped to withstand earthquakes and most families do not have sufficient stored supplies. As Californians, we need to take a stand and protect our loved ones and ourselves from potential natural disasters. 

The disasters of the Japan earthquake should be a lesson and a learning opportunity for us. So save a flashlight in the garage and stock up on canned food and water; none of us are invincible and one can never be too prepared.