One of the factors in moving overseas that is rarely discussed are the dangers of natural disasters. On its surface it sounds like fear-mongering and paranoia. And then things like this happen:
The problem with being an expat is that you are not used to the natural disasters that regularly beset some parts of the world. I grew up in Los Angeles and so am somewhat familiar with earthquakes, though I have never lived through anything like what the people of Japan have just experienced. If an earthquake were to happen in a place where I was living I would know enough to dive under a sturdy table or stand in a doorway. I would also be able to approximately gauge how large of a quake it was by simply feeling it. Someone new to earthquakes would most likely panic and react incorrectly.
Some places are natural disaster zones
If you live on the so-called Ring of Fire which includes the West Coast of the United States, Japan, and New Zealand, it is essential that know something about earthquakes. If you wish to retire in the Caribbean or Southeast United States, it is essential that you learn something about hurricanes. While I have stressed repeatedly on this blog and in my books about how it is important to be aware of the political history of the country you live in, in order to gauge the likelihood of a revolution, it is equally important to know the natural history of the country you live in.
Japan is home to 20 per cent of the world’s major earthquakes with magnitudes higher than 6.0 on the Richter scale. The odds of experiencing an enormous earthquake at some point in the life of the average Japanese citizen are 100 per cent. In my lifetime Japan has experience two earthquakes that have killed in excess of 5000 people: this one and the Kobe earthquake that occurred in 1995. A modern economy like Japan’s has undoubtedly attracted hundreds of thousands of expats, many of whom are experiencing something they never imagined would occur in their lifetimes.
How can you prepare?
The easiest way to prepare is to simply know what is possible. If you live in hurricane belt, or an earthquake belt, you know that you will in all likelihood have to face one of these disasters at some point. The longer you live in the area, the greater the probability of the experience. Never travel to a part of the world without at least being cognizant of what mother nature has in store for you there.
Another way to prepare is to know the location of important emergency service locations. Know where the major hospitals are, even if it means simply making a mental note of their location. Know where your embassy is located, and add its phone number to your cell phone. The embassies of wealthier countries may have emergency supplies on hand as well in a time of crisis. They may also be the first places to have access to donated goods coming into the country.
And finally, make sure you have a first aid kit and at least some canned goods. Even the most developed and modern nations can be brought to their knees by a disaster, and the more you can depend on yourself rather than the benevolence of a local government, the better.
