Eye of the Storm

After Reading Question:What is the worst weather you have seen?

It was long long rain in 2006 July.Big mud flow destroyed many house and a few (7 or 8) people died in Okaya city. That time I lived in Shimosuwa town which is in the next in Okaya City. My house was near the river To-gawa. This 2 pictures which I took are the river To-gawa. The river seemed to overflow at any moment.

A lot of trunk road stopped. Therefore, the company became one day rest. Next day, I went to work from Shimosuwa to Matsumoto. But highway closed at 11:00 am. There was an instruction to people who lived in Suwa, "go back home". Of course, me too.

I left work at 12:00. Every cars concentrated on Route20 (shiojiri-toge). The traffic jam occurred. I got home about 4:30 pm. It would arrive in 30 minutes if the usual.

It was the worst weather I have seen.

Eye of the Storm

Q. What is the worst weather you have seen ?

I never forget the heavy rain of the summer 2006 which made big damage around Suwa area. Many persons died. Also some rivers flooded and the traffic network were paralyzed. The quantity of water of Togawa-rever, which is near my home, was unusual.

During heavy rain, I helped with fire brigade of my town to make many sandbags that is called “Dono”. After the storm, my wife and I participated to help the dredging to the channels for recovery.

I strongly understood that it is important to help each other and to connect with community.

Masanori Yagasaki

Eye of the Storm

I had read this book,Which was very interesting.

What is the worst weather you have seen? (Q2.)

There was a heavy snowfall in the Matsumoto and Shiojiri in Jan 1998. There was the snow of about 70 cm in a day. The next day, my company became a special holiday. This snow was record in the Matsumoto district meteorological observatory. It is the first case for me. It was a snow shoveling even if my company became the holiday. The kerosene of a heater was gone and I went shopping on foot to the petrol station. It was very heavy. It was a serious special holiday.