No.48 Support for Flood Damage Due to the Kinu River Embankment Breach

(Inagi Newsletter, November 15, 2015 issue)

This year's Typhoon No. 18 brought record-breaking heavy rain. In Inagi City, on September 9, 2015, in response to the announcement of landslide disaster warning information, the Disaster Response Headquarters was established at 3:16 PM to begin response efforts. There was no significant direct damage, and the information gathering system was scaled back at 5:35 PM on the same day.
Although No. 18 itself transformed into a temperate low-pressure system after making landfall on the Japanese archipelago, the influence of No. 17, which continued to linger over the Pacific Ocean, caused moist air to flow in from the south even after it passed. This resulted in a band of rain clouds stagnating from the northern Kanto region to the southern Tohoku region, leading to record rainfall. Many locations updated their all-time records, and the Japan Meteorological Agency named it the "September 2015 Kanto-Tohoku Heavy Rainfall."
Our city was relieved to have no damage, but the heavy rain continued the next day, and at around 8 AM on the 10th, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Fire and Disaster Management Agency requested the preparation for the dispatch of emergency fire assistance teams to neighboring prefectures.
The fire departments established in Tokyo include the Tokyo Fire Department and the Inagi City Fire Department, and during disasters, Inagi City will also participate as a member of the Tokyo Emergency Fire Assistance Team.

A request for actual deployment was made after 9 PM on the 10th, and team members were summoned. They departed for the Ibaraki Prefecture Toride Green Sports Center, the assembly point, at 1:20 AM on the 11th, heading to support Joso City, which suffered flooding damage due to the breach of the Kinugawa River levee.
The first dispatch team consisted of a firefighting squad (1 pump truck) with 5 members, an emergency squad (1 ambulance) with 3 members, and a support squad (1 large bus) with 3 members, and they carried out activities for three days until the 13th. The Inagi team achieved 50 rescues and transported 4 critically ill patients. It is said that the flooded area covered one-third of the city, and the rubber boat they brought was very useful.
The first dispatch team operated for three days without sufficient breaks and was replaced by the second dispatch team. In the second dispatch, in addition to rescue activities, they were instructed to conduct safety confirmations and search activities for missing persons, engaging in 186 search activities over four days until the 16th.
Through the dispatch of a total of 5 teams and 18 members, we were able to contribute to Joso City, and I believe it is very gratifying that all team members returned safely.
I have heard that there were issues regarding the collaboration between the city's disaster response headquarters, the Inagi City Fire Department, the prefecture, the police, and the Self-Defense Forces, as well as the sharing of personal information of affected residents during the recent flooding in Joso City.
In our city, we will implement more practical disaster prevention training to utilize the lessons learned from dispatching to actual disasters when the local area is affected. We will also enjoy the benefits of operating the Inagi City Fire Department independently and strive to collaborate with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, police, and Self-Defense Forces during disasters.