The autumn joint fire-prevention and disaster-management drill organized by all Palaceside Building tenants was held on Wednesday, November 11, on the rooftop and elsewhere. In the indoor hydrant water-discharge drill, water was released with force against the backdrop of Tokyo Skytree＝photo above. A total of 540 people from 91 companies and organizations, including tenants and building staff, took part. Thank you all for your hard work.
Held twice each year, in spring and autumn, this regular event was timed again this year to coincide with the nationwide Fire Prevention Campaign (November 9–15).
The drill began at 2:30 p.m. on the scenario that "an earthquake of upper 6 on the Japanese intensity scale had occurred." After initial-response training covering personal protection,
fire prevention, emergency inspection, and damage assessment, a fire was assumed to be spreading on B3. An evacuation advisory was broadcast, and participants actually evacuated to ground level via emergency stairs.
They then assembled on the rooftop for initial firefighting with extinguishers, lifesaving training with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) under guidance from Kojimachi Fire Station personnel＝photo right, first-aid training with triangular bandages, and exercises carrying simple stretchers to feel the weight＝photos upper left and lower left＝, among other activities. During indoor hydrant discharge, operators also handled the original shutoff valves. Everyone took part with serious expressions.
Rescue kits kept on the 1st, 5th, and 8th floors were also displayed in one corner of the venue, with instruction on how to use them
.
As in previous years, a "shaking vehicle" that lets you feel earthquake tremors was dispatched from Chiyoda Ward Office to the west entrance, where visitors experienced shaking equivalent to intensity 7.
After the drill, Yasunori Makiguchi, section chief for prevention at Kojimachi Fire Station, offered comments: "Few buildings can hold drills in a space as large as a rooftop. Overall, voices were too quiet; given the noise of an actual disaster scene, please call out and report more loudly."
Palaceside Building will continue to work steadily on drills and other measures, aiming to be a building where people feel safe and secure.