No Need to Panic about Floods！　～What You Should Know About Floods～

Flood-fighting Warning and Flood Forecast

The purpose of flood-fighting warning is to provide flood-fighters with the guideline of flood-fighting actions, such as “stand by”, “ready”, “dispatch”, “call off”, etc. The warning is to be issued at each predetermined“reference water level”of the designated“reference gauging stations”.
The goal of flood forecasting is to prevent or mitigate the damage of flood. It provides information on the prospective flood beforehand for flood-fighters and local residents, so that they can take appropriate actions to fight flood or to protect their lives and properties.

Flood-fighting Warning Section and Flood Forecast Section

The section of the Abukumagawa River, from the border of Miyagi Prefecture to the Shin-otsuji-ohashi Bridge of Sukagawa, is under control of the “Fukushima River and National Highway Office”. This section is further divided into subsections: the “flood-fighting warning section” (excluding the part of the river where the repair work is not required) for supporting flood-fighters activities, and the “flood forecast section” for providing advance information on the prospective flood to local residents.

Danger Level Indicates Danger of Floodwater Damage!!

What if the water level of the Abukumagawa River exceeds the “danger level”?
“The river could flood the roads and houses” in the area where there is no levee, or even in the area where there is a levee, “the backflow of the drain could flood the area”, or “the river water could overflow the levee”

Evacuation Advice (Evacuation Order)

When the water level of the Abukumagawa River exceeds the “danger level” and the situation is considered dangerous, the municipal mayors issue the “evacuation advice” or “evacuation order” as appropriate to the area.

The “evacuation advice” or “evacuation order” is announced via fire trucks, police cars, public address vehicles as well as TV and radio broadcast, disaster radio communication, fire bells, door-to-door notification by fire-fighters and resident associations.

Especially, pay close attention to the TV and radio broadcast.