Directions for prevention (30) Try using the Disaster Message Board.

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　"I'm looking for Mr./Ms. XX" "My contact information is XX." Immediately after the Great East Japan Earthquake, many papers with similar messages were posted on bulletin boards at city halls and other places. In the affected areas where electricity, communication, and transportation networks were cut off, information on the safety of family and friends was one of the most needed pieces of information.

　Disaster message boards set up by telecommunications companies when a disaster occurs are a convenient service for checking the safety of others. However, to take advantage of this service, the people you want to contact must know about the service and how to use it. If only you know about this, your message won't get through.

　You can try using a disaster message board on the 1st and 15th of every month. Today is 1st. Why not try it out and stay in touch with family and friends?

　However, there may be circumstances in which you are unable to use the service during a disaster. In preparation for such a situation, decide on a place for the family to meet up.