Heavy Rain and flooding in Chiba Prefecture, More than 529 businesses were affected

More than 520 businesses in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, were affected by record-breaking rainfall last month, according to local authorities. Officials said the total damage amounted to 2.6 billion yen, or about $17 million. Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued Level 5 emergency warnings, the highest level on its scale, for torrential rain and landslides in several municipalities across the prefecture during the heavy rainfall in mid-August. In Chiba City, nearly three times the average rainfall for the entire month of August fell in just half a day. The heavy rain left 13 people dead and damaged more than 7,000 homes. A prefectural survey found that 529 companies had reported damage to their shops, offices or equipment as of September 2. The Chiba Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other organizations have set up temporary consultation desks to help small and medium-sized businesses deal with financial and other difficulties. Insurance companies have also assigned additional staff to ensure that claims are processed and paid promptly. However, some businesses remain unable to resume operations even a month after the heavy rains, while others have decided to close down. Authorities are now facing the challenge of determining how best to support the affected businesses.