Is your home earthquake-resistant? All but one of the 59 municipalities in Fukuoka Prefecture offer subsidies for earthquake-proofing measures. (Fukuchi Town’s subsidy scheme is in the works.) Houses eligible for subsidies are wooden houses built before May 1981 in accordance with the old earthquake-resistance standards whose score on an earthquake-resistance test is less than 1.0 (i.e., houses that have been deemed as “possible” or “highly likely” to collapse in the event of a large temblor. Earthquake-proofing can cost between ¥1.5 and ¥2 million for a typical home, but there are subsidies ranging from ¥300,000 to ¥700,000 depending on your municipality. If you live in Fukuoka City and would like an earthquake resistance test for your home, contact the Fukuoka Earthquake Resistance Promotion Council (092-724-7744). The cost is ¥3,000. People living outside the city can call the Fukuoka Prefecture Housing Center to have an advisor dispatched to their home. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun 3/16
(photo – unrelated, for image purpose only)
