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What a Sudden Downpour Taught Me About Protection — A Workplace Near Miss and Today's Weather Warnings

I had just returned from another task when I saw it. The rain had started, sure—but in just 10 or 20 minutes, everything changed. Water shot through the window like a laser beam. For a moment, my brain couldn't process it. "Is this a scene from a disaster movie?" I thought. But it was all too real—and it was headed straight toward my feet.

The water quickly covered my ankles. I wanted to run, to go home, to escape it all. But I was in charge. I couldn’t leave. In that moment, I realized: disasters aren’t someone else’s problem. They come without warning—and suddenly, you’re in it. Like those who faced earthquakes and floods before me, I had no time to process, only act.

I didn’t hesitate. I shut down every power source, every machine. It felt like the only thing I could do to protect them. I didn’t know if it would work—but I knew doing nothing would be worse. Sometimes, responsibility means making a decision, even while your hands shake.

We worked hard to drain the water, and luckily, the machines weren’t totally destroyed. But they sat useless for a week. I kept thinking, "It wasn’t my fault." Still, it hurt. If only we’d had a barrier—just a simple one—maybe nothing would’ve happened. A little prevention can save a lot. Sometimes, it can even save lives.

After the incident, the company installed a barrier outside the window. It was a small change, but an important one. Sometimes, change only comes after something goes wrong. But at least we changed. And next time, we’ll be ready.

Today, heavy rain is trending in the news again. We live in a country where disasters happen often—yet each time, people act surprised. Maybe that’s the danger: we get used to it. But every soaked station, flooded street, and delayed train reminds us—we’re never really ready. Let today’s headlines be a quiet warning: prepare.

Preparation isn’t glamorous. It doesn’t make money. Companies often don’t want to invest in it. But when disaster hits, what you prepared yesterday could save something—or someone—today. That’s the quiet truth behind every emergency plan, every extra sandbag, every decision to act: someone once lived through it.

💬 ENGLISH:
Wondering what it really means to “be prepared”?
Here’s another post where I explore that idea:
👉 Why I Canceled All My Insurance and What “Being Truly Prepared” Means to Me

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Also related to the theme of “protecting life,” here’s another story I shared:
👉 What I Thought About “Protecting Life” on Japan’s Cat Protection Day

💬 ENGLISH:
Sometimes, your heart moves even when you least expect it.
Here’s a story about one such unexpected emotional moment:
👉 The Story of a Middle-Aged Man Who Cried Without Watching “Bocchi the Rock!”

💬 ENGLISH:
Being prepared isn’t just about emergencies—it’s about taking care of your health, too.
Here’s a story about how I started running for a health check and ended up aiming for a marathon:
👉 Starting with a Health Check—And Running Toward a Marathon