One month after the heavy rains in Chiba, more than 10,000 vehicles were submerged in water, and the car-sharing association's free rentals cannot keep up with demand.

The 13th marks one month since the heavy rains killed 13 people in Chiba Prefecture. Around 10,000 vehicles were submerged in water due to flooding in various parts of the prefecture, and approximately 3,100 vehicles were temporarily stranded on roads. In an effort to support victims who have lost their means of transportation due to these natural disasters, the Japan Car Sharing Association (Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture) provides free car rentals in various locations, but due to the unprecedented pace of disasters, there continues to be a ``shortage of cars and people.''

"Squall line-type" cumulonimbus clouds stagnate; analysis of Chiba heavy rains - Japan Meteorological Agency

The association was established in 2011 in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Cars and other items that were scheduled to be scrapped are donated and lent to disaster victims free of charge. As of the end of August, they had secured a total of about 600 units, but this summer there was a flood of applications due to a series of disasters across the country in addition to Chiba, including the earthquake in Kumamoto and heavy rains in Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui. The agency is only able to respond to about 300 cases, or one-sixth of the number of cases, and a person in charge says, ``Due to the unprecedented number of disasters, we are unable to keep up with the needs.We don't have enough vehicles or operational staff.''

In Chiba Prefecture, in cooperation with local governments, rental bases have been opened in three locations since August 27th. A man in his 50s from Oami Shirasato City, whose home was flooded, said, ``I'm grateful,'' as he loaded his household goods into a borrowed light truck and hurried to restore his home.

However, out of more than 760 applications so far, only 33 have been loaned out. The association hastened its response by increasing the number of vehicles from about 20 to about 90.

At the base in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture, which was hit by an earthquake with a magnitude of 6 or above, Haruka Enokida (21), whose workplace was affected by the earthquake, works as a temporary staff member to compensate for the labor shortage. ``I have always wanted to contribute to the community, and it feels very rewarding,'' he says, noting how many disaster victims come every day to carry disaster waste.

The association set up a base in Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture, on the 4th of this month in response to a series of heavy rains in Hokuriku in late August. On the 8th, record heavy rains caused flooding in the city of Nagoya, but the person in charge said, ``It is difficult to provide assistance in the current situation,'' and is appealing for car donations and volunteer participation.