Homemade Evacuation Shelter Saved 70 People From Tsunami

[AsahinaKimi]

When Higashi Matsushima resident Yoshifumi Sato decided to build his own evacuation shelter 10 years ago, neighbors were skeptical. The area already had an officially designated evacuation shelter, so few people expected that anyone would every use Sato’s shelter.

However, when the tsunami hit on March 11th, the official shelter was overtaken by the waves. Only Sato’s shelter, which stood atop a 30-meter hill, survived. About 70 people spent the night inside it. (see video)

http://www.japanprobe.com/2011/04/04/homemade-evacuation-shelter-saved-70-people-from-tsunami/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+JapanProbe+%28Japan+Probe%29

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Another hero.. sugoi ne!

[loudsue]

1. Survivalists are only crazy UNTIL there is a disaster.

Then, suddenly they're the smartest people on the globe, and everyone's best friend.

Crazy-assed world we live in, but that is the way it is.

[shireen]

2. good story

It would be interesting to learn more about it. If anyone knows Japanese, could you please add a few more details about that report?

[Art_from_Ark]

6. According to an Asahi news article, he chiseled steps into a 100-ft-high

mountain of rock, installed a railing by the steps, and made the steps of a height that even elderly people could walk up. At the top of the mountain, he built an 8-tatami room (roughly 12 ft X 12 ft), a pavilion, and an observation deck where people could look out over the ocean. He hung a sign at the beginning of the steps that said "Disaster Shelter (Tsunami)". Local people called the facility "Mt. Sato".

On March 11, Mr. Sato led his family of 4 and his dog to the shelter. At that time, there were already 40 people there. They heard the tsunami come in and topple trees and houses. After the first wave went out, another group of people came to the shelter because they did not think they could survive a second wave. There were also 4 people who were carried by the wave to the refuge, including a severely injured man. The people on "Mt Sato" let down a long pole to pull them up to the shelter.

In all, about 70 people ended up at the shelter. The elderly and injured stayed in the 12 X 12 room where they kept warm with a kerosene heater. Others went to the pavilion where they made a bonfire. That is where they spent the night.

http://www.asahi.com/national/update/0329/TKY201103290226.html

[AsahinaKimi]

7. Ark san

Thanks for adding to the story! I was hoping to find more! ^^ This man is indeed a hero!

[Art_from_Ark]

12. Reading more of the article, it appears that Mr. Sato

might have gotten his inspiration from the tsunami that resulted from the 1960 Chile earthquake, which partially flooded houses in his town and covered the area with debris. He insisted that a tsunami shelter had to be built on high ground. Local people, perhaps based on their experience with the 1960 tsunami, did not think that a huge tsunami would hit the area. One local resident, Hidekazu Toyama (who was about 8 or 9 at the time of the 1960 tsunami), expressed his appreciation. "(People ) said that there wouldn't be a big tsunami here, and they half-laughed at the work that Mr. Sato was doing. But he was a man of vision".

[Bonobo]

3. He used his retirement money... VIDEO LINK

God, I love Japanese people. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkPTJB0Zqds

[Dappleganger]

8. Bless him!

The world needs more people who CARE.

[Art_from_Ark]

4. Wow, that is amazing

Mr. Sato made 70 new friends (plus lots of others on the Internet)!

On a side note, Higashi Matsushima is in an area that is known as one of the "Nihon Sankei" ("Three Great Scenic Views of Japan"). During long holiday periods, the area is brimming with tourists, who spend lots of money to take cruises around the small islands collectively called "Matsushima". One of the peak seasons is coming up in about 3 weeks.

[dkf]

5. What a wonderful story.

Warms my heart.

[Uncle Joe]

9. A modern day Noah's Ark.

Thanks for the thread. AsahinaKimi.:thumbsup:

[AsahinaKimi]

11. You are most welcome

I hope to continue to bring news from Japan.. There are some amazing stories out there..

頑張れ日本!!

[uppityperson]

10. kicking for the added details in the thread. Hero indeed

[Generic Other]

13. Wonderful story!

Thanks for posting