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The Prime Minister in Action
Ministerial Meeting on Typhoon No. 19
October 11, 2019
[Provisional Translation]
On October 11, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a Ministerial Meeting on Typhoon No. 19* at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
“A powerful typhoon, Typhoon No. 19, is highly expected to approach and make landfall in eastern Japan, during the weekend, while maintaining its extreme strength and impacting a wide portion of Japan, including disaster-affected areas still undergoing recovery work from Typhoon No. 15**. Police, firefighters, and the Japan Coast Guard are on high alert and approximately 17,000 personnel of the Self-Defense Forces, mainly from the units based in the Kanto region and Shizuoka, are ready for rapid deployment soas to respond to various emergencies.
With respect to our responses, Minister of State for Disaster Management Takeda is taking the lead and the whole of the Government has heightened its alert. It is expected that this typhoon will have a major impact on the daily lives of the public not only because the planned suspension or cancellation of Shinkansen and flights have been decided but also because there are concerns over the impacts of heavy rains and gales on lifelines, such as power and water outages.
I once again ask everyone to take more-than-adequate preparations, act with a sense of urgency, and exert every effort to secure the safety and security of the public, such as gathering information on the damage. In addition to ensuring the prompt dissemination of information that is easy to understand to all citizens, I also ask you to put in place necessary measures ahead of time before disaster strikes, collaborating closely with local governments and relevant organizations, incorporating the lessons from Typhoon No.15.
There is the possibility that we will see record-breaking heavy rains and strong winds as well as storm surges and others. I also ask the people to avoid going out unless it is absolutely necessary and urgent, as well as to stay alert and take necessary steps to save lives, such as following the evacuation advisories to be issued by local governments and being mindful of evacuating and securing your safety as early as possible before the wind and rain grows violent and before it gets dark.”
*Typhoon Hagibis
**Typhoon Faxai