Disaster Preparedness Month reminds all to be ready

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jennifer Levine and Airman 1st Class Kevin Klingelhoefer
  • 18th Civil Engineer Squadron
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  September is officially Disaster Preparedness Month, and as such we have included some tips and tricks for a few of the natural disasters you may face while being stationed here at Kadena.

Between the months of July and November, Okinawa is in typhoon season. As a result, Okinawa remains in Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness, or TCCOR, 4 to ensure a continual state of readiness.

A typhoon is formed through a process called tropical cyclogenesis, in which they feed off heat released when humid air rises. Okinawa, due to its warm temperatures and high humidity, is a breeding magnet for typhoons.

Due to the high winds generated from a typhoon, many objects, both large and small, can become flying hazards. Along with these airborne projectiles, water becomes just as dangerous due to the storm surges that are generated.

Surviving a typhoon all comes down to one simple concept, preparedness. Here are some of the ways that you could potentially prepare for the next typhoon:

- Have a well stocked emergency kit

- Place your fridge and freezer on the coldest setting and only open when absolutely necessary

- Bring in or tie down all loose objects outside

- Fill your bathtub with water (for flushing or bathing)

During the next typhoon:

- Stay away from windows as they may shatter

- Stay indoors; if you must be outdoors, avoid power lines and gas tanks

Okinawa also lies on what is known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, a series of ever-shifting plates and active volcanoes. This ring encircles the Pacific, making the region the most volatile in terms of seismic activity. Ninety percent of Earth's earthquakes occur within this region.

Earthquakes are caused by plates shifting beneath the earth's surface. When a shift and sudden break occurs, massive amount of stored energy is released from the plates, creating seismic waves. This expelled energy is what causes earthquakes and more commonly, the rumbling ground.

Perhaps the largest threat with earthquakes is that there is currently no proper way to predict when an earthquake will occur. Due to this lack of warning it is crucial that during an earthquake you know what to do to keep safe.

If indoors:

- Drop to the ground and find reliable cover

- Avoid windows and any unsecured items that could potentially tumble onto you

If outdoors:

- Stay outdoors

- Find an open area away from any potential falling debris

- If in a car, stay inside the car and try to avoid anything that could possibly fall upon your vehicle.

As if earthquakes themselves weren't bad enough, they can produce a secondary threat just as dangerous, with the potential for massive destruction. When an earthquake occurs off the coast or by a coastal region, the shifting in plates can displace the water, creating an immense wave that rages across the ocean at up to 600 miles per hour. This destructive wave, often mistaken for a tidal wave, is a tsunami.

Fortunately there is more potential for warning people about tsunamis then for earthquakes. After an earthquake, there may be time before the wave reaches the coast. A rapid recession of water from the coast line is a major sign of a tsunami on its way.

The best thing to do if there is word of an impending tsunami is to get to high ground and stay there. If for whatever reason you find yourself on the beach during one of these warnings or after an earthquake, leave.

As with any disaster, if we act accordingly and do what we are supposed to, we can minimize damage and casualties. Be responsible and prepared.