SHIZUOKA (Kyodo) Damage from the strong earthquake that hit Shizuoka Prefecture on Tuesday was limited because residents secured some or most of their furniture in advance, the results of an online survey say.

Tokyo-based Survey Research Center Co. said people were significantly more prepared than they were during the fatal quakes that struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture in March 2007 and Niigata Prefecture in July 2007.

Shizuokans are also well-aware that the so-called Tokai earthquake could wreak devastation on the region at any time.

"The residents' disaster awareness may have helped reduce the damage from the recent earthquakes," the center said. According to the survey, 60.3 percent of Shizuoka's residents used straps to secure their furniture before Tuesday's quake — far higher than the 38.4 percent in Niigata and 25.8 percent in Ishikawa.

Also, 15.0 percent of Shizuokans said they had their houses tested for quake resistance, versus 1.6 percent in Ishikawa and 1.2 percent in Niigata.

They also surpassed their counterparts in earthquake insurance, with 34.8 percent claiming coverage in Shizuoka versus 16.4 percent in Niigata and 12.1 percent in Ishikawa.

The survey polled about 700 people 20 or older in Shizuoka on Wednesday and Thursday and compared the results with similar surveys taken in the aftermath of the 2007 quakes.