We confirmed that some fencing was blown away and the lids on the drums were knocked off. Last night, strong winds and gusts continued from around midnight until about 2 AM. The noise from the wind was so loud I couldn’t sleep. To describe the feeling, it was like a high-pressure washer blasting the roof.
I was forced to stay awake until after 2 AM, and we experienced a power outage lasting about 2 minutes, which made me think I need to hurry and get an additional portable power station… That’s what I’m thinking. In the end, there was almost no damage, but I realized I need to think about countermeasures in case rain falls even harder and longer than this.
Occurrence Date/Time: Monday, September 7, 2026 (afternoon onwards)
Weather Conditions: Localized torrential rain and linear precipitation systems striking the broader Kanto region and throughout Chiba Prefecture, accompanying the approach of an autumn rain front and low-pressure system.
Current Conditions Around Chiba, Mobara, and Mutsuzawa: Operational status of drainage pumping stations and retention ponds learned from past flood disasters (such as the Ichinomiya River system), and current conditions of high-risk flooding areas including low underpasses and rural farmland.
Decoboco Factory Status: We deployed the “water barrier installation” and “zero floor storage” measures I wrote about in yesterday’s blog immediately from the night before. Both the pit and customer vehicles remain completely dry and safe with zero flooding.
Shop Owner’s Comment: Right after I wrote “flood prevention is common sense” last night, this rain came. Preparation (groundwork) never fails you, not even for a second. For those traveling through the area, absolutely avoid attempting to drive through flooded roads—prioritize safety above all!
There was a slight amount of water inside the factory
Just a tiny bit. The entrance folding door has height and some gaps. I learned this time that with horizontal rain, some water does seep in.
With that much horizontal rain, this level is acceptable. Honestly, I think if it had been a roller shutter, quite a bit more would have gotten in.
I’ve installed a Tachikawa Blinds roll screen because direct sunlight is intense until noon. It’s surprisingly hard to find decent products in this width and length.
If you’re looking for one, it’s reasonably priced and sturdy. I recommend Tachikawa Blinds—reliable. By the way, you can buy it on Rakuten… Roll Screen Shieron Blackout Grade 1 Custom Size
The outside drainage ditch wasn’t as bad as during a typhoon
The drainage ditch in front is clogged in many places, so its drainage function is quite poor. Even a moderate amount of rain causes this problem.
When it gets really bad, I use a portable power station and a submersible pump to drain it. If you’re living in the countryside, you really need to have at least a submersible pump on hand.
Despite the rain falling for quite a long time, it wasn’t as bad as I expected.
I really don’t like water accumulating there, so I cleaned the drainage ditch before. But the cleaning was more like digging—the soil had become that compacted. Rather than being tired, “Where do I take the removed soil?” I faced that problem.
Vegetation doesn’t disappear, so it’s quite challenging.
I noticed one of them isn’t functioning. I’ll check it by running water on a sunny day.
Parking lot for lowered cars. It flooded once here, but that must have been when it rained really hard. The weeds are bothering me… on a sunny, cool day I’ll get to it again…
As for my home, water always pools slightly in the low spot. Since there’s a subsurface drainage system installed under the lawn, water doesn’t accumulate much.
Observe each situation and apply it next time
Honestly, this time was less severe than I expected. I was imagining something much worse. But if that horizontal rain continues for more than 24 hours, the story changes.
I seriously need to consider that trendy portable power station setup connected to the distribution panel. When it rains and winds hard, both my home and factory lose power for a few minutes… Right now the outages are brief so I’m not too concerned, but if they lasted hours, that would be different. Considering that possibility, I think we need to be prepared for what’s coming in the future.
This elevation provides unparalleled peace of mind.
This area is elevated compared to its surroundings, and both my home and factory sit one level higher than that. For this location to flood would honestly be unrealistic… peace of mind (*´ω｀*)
These days, you need to read beyond the hazard maps. Places that shouldn’t flood according to hazard maps are flooding. When you build or rent a house or workshop (shop) and it floods in a downpour, no amount of time or money is enough. Location selection has become truly critical, so thinking “I’ll be fine” isn’t the safer approach.
Many bike rental garages in urban areas are semi-basement. If the garage where you’re currently renting or storing is semi-basement, you should consider relocating. By the way, basically “flood damage coverage doesn’t exist” You can only take out vehicle insurance yourself. I have a feeling “My bike got submerged” requests will be coming soon… First, think about it during normal times and prepare accordingly.
Workshop Real-Time Weather & Emergency Ops.
Subject: Torrential rain hits Kanto & Chiba on September 7, 2026: Local road conditions in Mobara/Mutsuzawa and factory defense update. Details: Emergency dispatch from the Decoboco tech bay! Just one day after publishing our flood prevention guide, intense autumn rainbands struck the Kanto region and central Chiba. Thanks to our pre-installed aluminum flood barriers, fully elevated hydraulic lifts, and off-floor equipment storage, our workshop and customer machinery remain 100% dry and secure. Road Alert: Low-lying roads and underpasses across Mobara and the Ichinomiya River basin face severe localized pooling. Never attempt driving through standing water—ingesting water causes fatal engine hydrolock. Verdict: Proactive prep work always proves its worth in critical moments. Stay off flooded roads and prioritize safety above all else tonight!
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