Registering 7.2 on the Richter scales the January 17 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake mdash; then Japan rsquo;s worst natural disaster since World War II next only to the Isewan Typhoon mdash; left 6430 dead 40000-odd injured more than 510000 houses partially or fully destroyed. It also nbsp;caused private and public property losses totaling 10 trillion yen. On July 10th of that same year the newly restructured Taipei City Fire Department set about building Taiwan rsquo;s first fire safety museum and arming it with simulation features in order to raise awareness about natural crises and the correct approaches to tackling them. nbsp; nbsp; Employing computerized electronic or mechanical simulations the museum now offers quasi-physical experiences of various natural hazards mdash; along with thorough mini-documentaries on their respective histories and characteristics mdash; in the hope that visitors will make preparations accordingly for fires floods earthquakes typhoons and other types of calamity part of their daily life. Fun tips are also incorporated into the exhibits to help visitors brace for the unexpected more efficiently. nbsp; In conveying what they have learned from those educational displays to friends and families the museum-goers can spread the message and help to effectively avert the threat of disasters. nbsp; nbsp; Keep in mind: nbsp; (1) All visitors will be charged an admission fee. To ensure high-quality services however please follow the museum guides rsquo; instructions. nbsp; (2) Interactive displays are available ONLY to visitors aged 4 or older. nbsp;