Four full years since the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake. Palaceside Building also held a comprehensive fire drill. The Joint Fire and Disaster Management Council, organized by all tenants, holds it every year in the spring and autumn national fire-prevention campaigns; this year, as last year, it fell on March 11 itself.
At 2:30 p.m., under the scenario of a major quake striking the Tokyo area, in-building broadcasts of “Drill—earthquake occurring” began. After taking cover under desks and securing safety, a fire was assumed in the second-basement east parking; the Disaster Prevention Center tried first extinguishing with extinguishers but the blaze spread. At 2:38 an evacuation advisory emergency broadcast ran, and shops and offices from the first basement through the ninth floor actually evacuated to the first floor by emergency stairs and the like.
After that, practical training gathered on the roof. First, from the volunteer fire chief (the Mainichi Building president) down, all 576 participants—shops, offices and building staff—offered one minute of silent prayer for victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake (top photo).
Next, indoor-hydrant hoses were aimed at a target about 10 meters away and water sprayed (photo above), first-extinguishing practice with extinguishers (water-filled units
actually discharged) (photos at right and above), CPR with an AED (photos at right and below), plus a smoke-experience house (harmless smoke filling a tent to walk through). At the first-floor west entrance a Chiyoda Ward shake truck let people feel a magnitude-7 tremor… From a full menu each participant took a challenge.
Also, the “disaster-response chairs” just installed on the 9th in all 16 east and west elevators had their contents—drinking water, food (coo
kies), lanterns, portable toilets and the like—displayed; many people looked with interest (photo at left).
There was sun, but a cold north wind blew. To everyone who took part, thank you for your hard work.
