１ History of the Toki River Flood
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| "Toki River" from Tajimi Film Engine |
Raging river, its name is Toki River
Around 1920, the Toki River was much more winding than it is today.
When heavy rains fell, the river quickly overflowed, engulfing fields and homes and causing repeated human suffering.
The Ikeda area has also suffered damage many times.
The Shinzawa River, which flows through the town of Ikeda, has also been flooded many times by the backwash of the Toki River.
The river at the foot of Mt. Inari in Ikeda was so steep and swirling that people sometimes drowned to death.
One of the causes is that the river makes a major bend due to the mountains of Ikeda Inari and Wakinoshima across the river, and the width of the river narrows abruptly.
Despite this shape, the Kasahara and Ohara Rivers join the Toki River upstream, increasing the volume of water.
In the mountains, the trees that serve as water retention became scarce as people dug up the potter's clay used to make pottery, causing water to flow into the river at once when it rained.
Ikeda and Wakinoshima levee battle
The people of Ikeda and Wakinoshima have suffered from the flooding of the Toki River.
The higher, longer, and stronger the levees were made, the more the river burst on the opposite bank and flooded the area.
As a result, there were fights over the levees.
At one point, there was an uproar over whether or not the construction of a river gage to straighten the Toki River was right or wrong, and the construction was temporarily halted.
Toki River river erosion work that has been carried out
Although the river gage construction was halted, it was clear that the river would continue to meander and cause flooding.
With the opening of the Chuo Line, the banks of the railway line served as a levee to some extent, but this did not stop the river from overflowing.
When the Toki River overflowed, about 1/3 of the houses in Ikeda were all flooded, and in the worst areas, the water was up to the roof level.
In 1932, a major construction project to straighten the flow of the Toki River finally began.
The construction took four years.
２ How to protect yourself from flood damage from torrential rains and typhoons
In September 2011, the approach of Typhoon No. 15 brought record-breaking rainfall to the Tokai region, flooding Ikeda-cho Maebata-cho in Tajimi City and the Heiwa-machi area above floor level.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, which manages the Toki River, and the Tajimi City Hall have taken measures against flood damage.
However, recent abnormal weather and torrential rains have caused threats that would normally be unthinkable.
According to the Tajimi City flood forecast map, the Ikeda-cho area is expected to be inundated with 1 to less than 5 meters of water in a once-in-100-year flood.
So what can we do to protect ourselves from torrential rains and other floods?
For flood countermeasures, please contact
①What kind of preparations can be made in advance?
② What should we not do on the day of flooding?
③How should we protect ourselves on the day of flooding?
Let's take a moment to think about it.
① Preparation and confirmation in advance
・Prepare emergency supplies such as emergency food, flashlight, and medical supplies.
・Secure drinking water in case water is cut off.
・Check evacuation routes to schools, community centers, and other places designated as evacuation sites (Local governments have hazard maps that show where hazardous areas are and evacuation sites in case of disaster. ) Check the map to confirm where to evacuate to, and consider specific actions to take, including evacuation routes.
・Discuss evacuation sites and communication methods with your family on a regular basis.
*This is just one example. This is not the only correct answer.
② What not to do
・Do not unnecessarily approach rivers, irrigation ditches, or other places where water might rush in.
・Do not try to do everything by yourself. If you are unable to do so, ask for help from adults around you.
③ How to protect yourself on the day of flooding
Check frequently for warnings and advisories issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issues disaster prevention weather information, such as warnings and weather information, to prevent and mitigate such weather disasters, and calls for caution and precautions. In order to protect yourself from disasters, it is important to make effective use of these disaster prevention weather information.
In some cases, evacuate inside the building.
If heavy rain or strong winds make it dangerous to move to a shelter, do not go outdoors but evacuate inside the building. In this case, move to the upper floors of the building, or to a room on the opposite side of a mountain or cliff if they are nearby.
Help those who are weaker than you and take the best course of action.
It is difficult for the elderly, physically challenged, and young children to evacuate alone.
Please do not feel that you are alone, but have the spirit of helping those who are weaker than you.
If you cannot help yourself alone, ask for help from those around you.
In the ever-changing natural disaster situation, if each one of us thinks and acts for the best, we can save as many lives as possible.