TOKYO (TR) – Following a series of severe floods that submerged stores and forced temporary closures, convenience store giant Lawson has announced plans to expand the installation of flood barriers at high-risk locations across Japan, reports NHK (Sep. 30).
Record-breaking torrential rains centered around Chiba Prefecture on August 14 left roughly a dozen stores operated by major convenience chains inundated with water. In response to the growing threat, Lawson decided to roll out water-blocking panels to stores situated in vulnerable areas, such as those located at elevations lower than nearby rivers.
The company has already introduced the barriers at approximately 80 locations nationwide. The effectiveness of the panels was recently put to the test at a Lawson branch in Oamishirasato City, Chiba Prefecture.
After experiencing about 50 centimeters of flooding during the heavy rains in August, the store installed a barrier. When Typhoon No. 25 struck in September, the panel successfully blocked floodwaters from breaching the entrance.
“I was half in doubt, but the barrier almost completely prevented water from entering through the front doors,” said store manager Takuro Nishii. “It is a massive help because it significantly shortens the time it takes to resume business operations.”
Lawson’s headquarters announced it will shoulder the full cost of the installations, soliciting requests from franchise owners operating in flood-prone areas.
“By building disaster-resilient stores, we aim not only to reduce the burden on our staff during emergencies but also to ensure we remain a reliable resource for our local customers,” said Toya Yamaguchi, a manager in Lawson’s Risk Management Department.
