Okinawa's 2013 typhoon season begins Published May 30, 2013 By Staff Sgt. Lauren Snyder 18th Wing Public Affairs KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Beginning June 1, Kadena and all bases on the island will be in Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness Four. TCCOR4 is the default level of readiness during Okinawa's typhoon season, which runs from the first day of June through the last day of November, yearly. Typhoons in the Pacific Ocean and hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean are the same thing, although typhoons don't have the same categorization of intensity as tropical storms in the United States. Both oceans' tropical systems progress up from a tropical depression to a tropical storm but diverge after that. Instead of having hurricane categories one through five, typhoons are divided between typhoons and super typhoons. Given the location of the Ryuyku Islands in the West Pacific Ocean, which Okinawa is part of, typhoon season can be busy. It's common to have more than 20 typhoons in the area, although usually less than five will have an effect on Okinawa in a season. The different TCCOR conditions give a general timeline of when tropical cyclones of typhoon strength might be expected. TCCOR4 shouldn't alarm anyone, but does imply that typhoons could be expected within 72 hours. According to multiple previous typhoon preparation articles, the time to prepare for a typhoon-lockdown is now, before any are headed towards Okinawa. Waiting until a named system is en route to prepare will result in additional stress and possibly going without necessities during a storm. Create or update a survival kit with nonperishable food, flashlights and batteries to last several days. Keep at least one gallon of bottled water per person per day for several days ready. Fortunately, most structures on Okinawa are built to withstand the extremely high wind speeds and heavy rain that occur during the storms, but some precautions should be made. In order to suffer the least amount of damages possible, prepare space to store or have straps ready to secure outdoor items and potted plants, and have a supply of sandbags ready. Leaks can spring up, so have a mop and towels handy to soak up any water that may make it inside. To stay updated on approaching storms and current conditions, listen to Wave 89.1 or watch the Kadena Air Base Facebook page. The 18th Wing weather flight's webpage provides the official typhoon products, to include analysis and forecasts. The final decision on TCCOR declaration rests with the 18th Wing commander, who takes into consideration the 18th Wing weather flight forecast, officially observed wind speeds and weather, safety and operational and mission concerns. For more information, contact your chain of command. Individuals may also view the Emergency Actions guide at http://www.kadena.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-120808-075.pdf.