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On July 2, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a Ministerial Meeting on the Heavy Rain from the End of June and the Earthquake Centered Offshore of Yamagata Prefecture.
 
The Prime Minister said in his opening address,
 
“Since last weekend, the record-breaking rainfall caused by the seasonal rain front, has continued, centered on western Japan. As of now, one person has died in Kagoshima Prefecture, while damages to houses, such as flooding below floor level, have been reported mainly in the Kyushu region. I express my condolences for the person who has lost her life, and extend my sympathies to everyone who has been affected by this disaster.
 
As the seasonal rain front has remained stationary, there are concerns that the heavy rain will continue. It is necessary to remain duly vigilant in case of landslides and rising or flooding of rivers. The Government is now on heightened alert, in particular, Minister Yamamoto has already convened an Inter-Agency Disaster Alert Meeting. I ask each of you once again to recall the major disaster caused by the heavy rain in western Japan last year, and disseminate easy-to-understand information that will lead to evacuations in a timely manner. At the same time, please also work closely with local governments and the relevant organizations to put in place necessary measures ahead of time before disaster strikes.
 
I also ask the people of Japan to be prepared in advance, including checking the location of evacuation centers and routes, and take actions to protect their lives, such as being mindful of evacuating early, without letting down their guard at any moment.
 
With respect to the earthquake centered offshore of Yamagata Prefecture, two weeks have passed since it struck. I once again extend my sympathies to everyone who has been affected by this disaster, such as those who were injured and those whose homes have suffered damage.
 
In these areas, there are still residents who continue to experience inconveniences in their lives, such as those who need to rely on blue tarpaulin to cover the damaged roof tiles of their houses. Roads, ports, and other infrastructure have also been damaged. It is necessary to restore these services as soon as possible.
 
As we have entered the period of seasonal rains and typhoons and are approaching the peak tourism season, it is necessary to provide considerate support to ensure that all the people affected can return to their lives with peace of mind as soon as possible. I ask you to implement measures such as recovery of roads, ports, fishing ports, schools and other infrastructure, supports to micro, small and medium size enterprises, and financial support to the relevant local governments in addition to repairing houses and dispelling harmful rumors for the tourism sector. I ask each Minister to exercise leadership to identify needs on the ground carefully, and implement necessary measures immediately, making full use of various support mechanisms.”