Living in an evacuation shelter

After a natural disaster, you may find yourself living in a shelter for a while if you cannot return to your home. These shelters are called hinanjo （避難所）. These are operated by the local government and will provide you a place to sleep as well as meals and supplies. However, natural disasters are high-stress situations and problems can arise because of different cultures and language barriers. Here are some tips for living in a shelter if you should find yourself in such a situation.

• Try your best to support and empathize with your fellow shelter-mates.
• You probably will not be able to get any interpreters to help you so be patient with the language barrier.
• Respect other’s privacy. Don’t just walk into other people’s spaces.
• Take off your shoes when walking into your space or other people’s spaces.
• Keep your cell phone on silent and take calls outside.
• Wait patiently in lines for meals or the bathroom.
• Prioritize the elderly, people with disabilities, and nursing mothers.
• When supplies are delivered, do your best to hand them out as equally as possible. Don’t take more than your fair share of the resources.
• It may be impossible to create special meals for vegetarians, vegans, or religion-restricted diets. Refer to the list below to help explain food allergies.
• Keep the toilet area clean.
• Properly dispose of garbage.
• Don’t disturb others during lights out.
• Inform the people-in-charge if you are moving out of the shelter

Useful phrases

General

Japanese	Reading	English
私のスペースはどこにありますか。	Watashi no supesu wa doko ni arimasu ka.	Where is my individual space?
日本語ができないので、ご対応よろしくお願いします。	Nihongo ga dekinai node, go taiou yoroshiku onegai shimasu.	I cannot speak Japanese, so I would appreciate if you look out for me.
お医者さんに診てもらいたいです。	Oishasan ni mite moraitai desu.	I need to see a doctor.
トイレはどこですか。	Toire wa doko desu ka	Where is the toilet?
お風呂はどこですか。	Ofuro wa doko desu ka	Where is the shower/bath?
お願いします	Onegaishimasu	Please
すみません	Sumimasen	I’m sorry, excuse me
ありがとう	Arigatou	Thank you
分かりました	Wakarimashita	I understand
分かりません	Wakarimasen	I do not understand

Meals

Japanese	Reading	English
食事は何時ですか。	Shokuji wa nanji desu ka.	When is the next meal?
～が食べられません。	~ ga taberaremasen.	I cannot eat…
アレルギーです。	Arerugii desu.	I have an allergy.
宗教に制限されています。	Shuukyou ni seigen sarete imasu.	It’s restricted by my religion.
ベジタリアンです。	Bejitarian desu.	I’m a vegetarian.
ビーガンです。	Biigan desu.	I’m a vegan.
牛肉、豚肉、鶏肉	Gyuuniku, butaniku, toriniku	Beef, pork, chicken
卵	Tamago	Eggs
食肉エキス	Shokuniku ekisu	Meat extract （used in soups）
乳製品	Nyuuseihin	Dairy
小麦	Komugi	Wheat
大豆	Daizu	Soy
ナッツ、ラッカセイ	Nattsu, rakkasei	Nuts, peanuts
貝類	Kairui	Shellfish

Getting supplies

Japanese	Reading	English
【毛布・お薬・洋服・靴・電話・おむつ・生理用品】がほしいです。	【Moufu/okusuri/youfuku/ kutsu/denwa/omutsu/seiri youhin】ga hoshii desu.	I need （a blanket/ medicine /clothes/shoes/a phone/diapers/ feminine sanitary products）.