William As a newbie to Kumamoto, I’d chosen a campsite near Yabe when an experienced resident cautioned: “If it rains, you will die.” I moved camp.
Historical memory is of great value. Arroyos abound.
Science helps too. Kumamoto Prefecture has created a new “inundation estimation area map” based on the assumption of a “thousand year rainfall,” which meteorologists suggest may occur quite more frequently. Shirakawa has been widened and fortified to deal with this, but lower-lying areas in Kumamoto are at the mercy of nature. Learn potential dangers near you and how to prepare and respond. https://kumanichi.com/articles/614595