The Kanto region’s rainy season is not far off. In recent years guerrilla downpours have been frequent; we cannot let down our guard. So on May 24 Palaceside Building held a flood-defense drill against water damage.
Forty-five people took part: Mainichi Building staff plus those from Aing (building security), Globeship (facilities) and Seibi (cleaning).
First, a drill to close the two building entrances that lead to the second-basement Tokyo Metro Takebashi Station gates with flood doors. At the escalator entrance, floor blocks and a ceiling steel plate were removed by the manual; a two-part flood door reaching the ceiling (about 20 centimeters thick), stored behind the kiosk, was
pulled out and fixed with reinforcing bars (photo above).
The entrance from the subway gates to the west elevator tower was likewise sealed after the swinging doors were shut (photo at left).
Next came a drill to set flood boards at the top of the parking-entrance ramp (photos at right and below).
We then walked the building’s perimeter and checked flood-risk spots. Gaps in the automatic entrance doors and in the planting blocks beside the entrance—places that would need sandbags to keep water out—were reconfirmed by everyone.
Finally we inspected sandbags. About ten storage points on the second basement and the fifth and sixth floors were checked for torn bags. We also confirmed where emergency stockpiles are kept, and ended the drill.
Everyone stayed calm this time, but in a real event people tend to panic. To respond without error we must keep training and stay on guard—something all participants took to heart again.