Directions for prevention (37) Evacuate before heavy rain hits

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　The typhoon season will continue for a while. In preparation for possible heavy rains, the government has introduced a five level warning system to indicate actions that residents should take.

　Level 3 means “Evacuation of the elderly”, level 4 means “Evacuation of all persons from dangerous areas”, and level 5 means “Move to safe place immediately”. These warnings are issued by the municipality.

　Although not widely known, Level 1 means “Be prepared for a disaster”, and Level 2 means “Confirm evacuation actions”. These warnings are announced by the Japan Meteorological Agency. Why not take advantage of this stage, when there is still time before a disaster strikes, to evacuate on your own?

　Especially if you have elderly people or children, if you feel anxious due to heavy rain forecast in the middle of the night, even before the local government issues an evacuation order, begin evacuating to a relative's house or a sturdy building in a safe location.

　Hotels and inns are also good options as voluntary evacuation sites. Some municipalities, such as Sakata City, subsidize a portion of the accommodation costs for people with special needs and their caregivers.