NaviBlog underwater?

* After Katrina in the US, Japan is experiencing its own mini-Katrina, the comparisons of which I laughed off as sensationalist at first. You know, "typhoon No.14 is a big hurricane bla bla", the news says that everytime there is a typhoon coming anywhere near Japan, hide under covers, fear nature etc. Usually it's more like monsoon rain, sometimes a bit of wind, and end of story, at least in Tokyo. But not this time.
* Typhoon No.14 has left 240,000 Japanese running for their lives to shelters as apartments, homes, parks and highways are submerged by floodwater in some of the heaviest rainfall recorded in Japan. OK, it's less than 10% of the evacuation of Mississipi and Louisiana, but it's still huge. Your erstwhile Naviblog reporter spent most of his time in rainy Tokyo today trying to get new recruits on board, while the typhoon has been ravaging the southernmost Japanese island of Kyushu. Most of where I was living in South Kyushu near Miyazaki City 6 years ago is now submerged in 2-3 meters of flood water. First floors are completely submerged, and some of the scenes on TV recall the rooftop rescues we've had trickling in from the US. Strangely enough, there have been only 6 dead so far and 14 missing, according to the Nikkei Net online edition, although the death toll will increase as the typhoon heads towards the northernmost island of Hokkaido, buffeting the Sea of Japan (and some of North Korea, I guess) and sending torrential rain Tokyo-way.
* I don't expect the Naviblog office to float away just yet, but will be on the lookout for weather projections (I imagine Thursday may be a heavy day for the Tokyo region).