Directions for prevention (11) Be alert until warning is lifted

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On the evening of July 28 last year, Yamagata Prefecture suffered record-breaking torrential rain, and rivers in various places flooded. Local governments issued an early warning and the residents quickly evacuated. Thus, there was not even one fatality.

Worthy of note was the case seen in Okura Village. The following morning after the evacuation, the sky cleared and some residents tried to return home from the evacuation center. However, the water level of rivers still required close monitoring and the village urged its residents to stay put. This underscores the fact that information on the timing to end the evacuation is just as important in saving lives as the start of evacuation.

With the Great East Japan Earthquake, there was a pitfall after successful evacuations. Some returned to their homes or workplace to bring back valuable or necessary items or out of worry for their family members and became victims of the tsunami.

Disaster information should be checked at the evacuation center and residents should not return and should not be permitted to return until safety is assured.