Kadena weathers Typhoon Bolaven Published Aug. 29, 2012 By Airman 1st Class Malia Jenkins 18th Wing Public Affairs KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Despite predictions from various weather sources that Typhoon Bolaven would be the worst storm to hit Okinawa in nearly two decades, Kadena was prepared for the storm's winds that ranged between 67 and 83 mph. From Sunday night to Monday morning the average wind speeds were 70 mph, with an estimated 10-15 inches of rainfall, said Master Sgt. Joseph Round, Kadena's weather flight chief. The eye of the storm passed over Nago 14 miles north of Kadena, but damage from the typhoon was minimal compared to similar-sized storms of the past. During Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness - Recovery, emergency crews worked throughout the day in difficult conditions to restore power to an estimated 500 buildings, said Lt. Col. Bryan Opperman, 18th CES commander. "We are still working on the estimate of the cost of the damage," said Opperman. The main issues noticed by civil engineer crews around the installation were debris clogging drainage systems, power outages, seven ceiling leaks and fallen tree limbs. "Facility managers and housing residents did a really good job of preparing for this typhoon," explained Senior Master Sgt. Donald Lucy, 18th Civil Engineering Squadron operation flight superintendent. The 18th CES currently has a cleanup team clearing debris from the roads and drain systems around the base. Maj. Ryan Walinski, 18th CES operation flight commander, said units and housing residents can help the team by pulling tree limbs to the street corner for pick up. As Team Kadena recovers from Typhoon Bolaven, Typhoon Tembin is following close behind. The weaker storm system is currently southwest of Okinawa, near Taiwan, and is projected to continue northward. "We should see no effects from the storm," Round said.