In preparation for flood damage, move to secure commercial facilities at evacuation destinations by car Tama River basin July 22 17:44
While the issue of securing evacuation shelters against wind and flood damage has become an issue, local governments in the Tama River basin, which flooded last year, are moving to secure evacuation shelters by vehicles, such as by using multi-storey parking lots of commercial facilities.
At Typhoon No. 19 last October when the flooding of the Tama River flowing through Tokyo and Kanagawa resulted in flooding of houses, there were a number of cases where local residents in the basin were unable to enter evacuation shelters.
In addition, due to fears of infection with the new coronavirus, it is expected that more people will evacuate by car in order to avoid three crowds in the evacuation center, and acceptance of this is an issue.
Against this backdrop, Tokyo Komae City, which is expected to flood more than half of the city when a flood occurs in the Tama River, signed an agreement with a home center with stores in the city to provide a multistory parking lot as an evacuation destination. I was asked to do it.
This home center is outside the area where flooding is expected and can hold up to 400 cars.
A female customer said, "Since there are infants and new coronas, it is realistic to evacuate with a car if floods occur right now. I would be grateful if the parking lot could be used as an evacuation center even for a short period of time. I was talking."
Keiji Ishihara, the manager of the Unidy Komae store, said, "First of all, it is a challenge to be recognized as an evacuation center, but since there is a toilet and drinks can be provided, I want you to utilize it as needed."
In addition, in the municipalities along the Tama River, Tokyo Inagi City has also signed an agreement with a home center to have the parking lot on the roof of the store provided as an evacuation destination.
Evacuation by car can be risky
Regarding evacuation by car during heavy rain, there is a risk of so-called "in-car death", which may cause the car to stop due to water, the door may not open due to water pressure, and damage may occur while moving by car.
For this reason, many municipalities, including Tokyo, do not recommend evacuation by car, and in principle call for evacuation early on foot.
However, last year's Typhoon No. 19 in Hachioji, Tokyo, most of the 1000 people gathered at the Fujimori Gymnasium, the largest refuge in the center of the city, had evacuated by car.
For this reason, evacuation on foot is the principle, but for those who stay in the car without staying in the building of the evacuation shelter, we will provide support supplies and economy class syndrome after understanding the number of people and their health condition. We are considering expanding support, such as calling for prevention.
This means that we assume people who are at risk of becoming seriously ill due to the new coronavirus, such as people with chronic illnesses and the elderly, and families who have young children and are forced to evacuate by car.
Hideyuki Kanno, Hachioji City's disaster prevention manager, said, "At the time of the typhoon last year, the parking lot at the gymnasium was not enough and we opened a temporary parking lot next to it. I want to call for evacuation."
In addition, Tachikawa City and Fuchu City will newly establish a parking lot for people who evacuate by car outside the area where flooding is expected, and select evacuation shelters that can be evacuated by car. We are trying to make everyone aware of.