Rising Water after the Typhoon

The other day I took a trip through the flood channels around Hirakata. The water was probably around 1ft deep and there was space on both sides of the channel before the second incline up to the road.

I found this strange tower which I believe is used to measure and report the current water level of the channel. Here it is before the Typhoon.

And After

Where I was standing for the before picture is now completely under water. Though this is already a drastic increase, judging by the sides of the channels, the water can get much higher.