MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Typhoon Songda saluted Iwakuni Sept. 7 with stinging rain and winds gusting up to 100 miles per hour. In her wake she left power outages, severe damage to several structures aboard the Station and the battered remains of previously well-manicured foliage.
“Parts of several roofs were blown off,” said Petty Officer 1st Class David Moore, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Station facilities maintenance chief. “Power outages were a problem on the South side of the Station, although essential facilities such as the Provost Marshal’s Office and Branch Medical Clinic were able to operate on backup generators.
“So far our two main goals have been to get the power back up and ensure the roads are clear for emergency vehicles,” noted Moore.
The morning of Sept. 8 found Gunnery Sgt. Coleman Scott, H&HS, Station chief contracting officer, assessing the damage to his workplace: Building 163.
Broken glass, insulation materials and ceiling tiles lay in sopping piles on the floor, as stacks of paperwork sop up the small lakes that have formed on each exposed desk.
“There’s 10-feet of sunlight coming through the ceiling,” pointed Scott.
“Right now we’re making initial assessments – we’re basically in recovery mode,” he said. “We’re trying to figure out what to do with 70 people who suddenly don’t have a work space.”
According to Scott, engineers have said that at least 50-percent of the building sustained structural damage.
“This is the worst storm I’ve seen since I was stationed in Okinawa,” added Scott.
According to Moore, Station recovery personnel are moving forward with standard recovery procedures in spite of a second tropical storm approaching.
“With the exception of a brief rest period, the Seabees have been working nonstop,” said Moore.
Moore credits the Seabees of the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133, as well as the Marines of Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 with assisting the recovery effort.
“We’d like to thank them for lending a hand as we work to restore order to the Station,” he said.
Moore also noted the exceptional service of the Japanese employees.
“They do an outstanding job every day and whenever we call on them,” said Moore. “They’re working hard right along with us.”