MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The highly-anticipated Typhoon Man-yi grazed the air station Saturday, leaving in its wake little more than patches of puddles and relieved residents.
Man-yi, which pounded nearby Okinawa with 105 mph winds and over 10 inches of rain Friday, hardly fazed Iwakuni with brief, 43 mph gusts and less than five total inches of precipitation.
“It really wasn’t bad at all,” said Sgt. Daniel A. Young, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron meteorological forecaster and native of Middletown, Ohio.
The typhoon initially looked to be bringing more severe weather, but it continued to slow down over time, he added.
The air station officially entered Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness III at 1 p.m. Thursday, and moved to TCCOR II by noon Friday. At this point, many station residents began making final preparations by stocking up on food and securing outdoor items.
During TCCOR III, Station Safety made their rounds inspecting units’ and domiciles’ readiness for the incoming storm.
“If we find any deficiencies, such as loose items, we report that to the section or unit,” said Sean Kim Han, station safety tactical safety specialist and Honolulu, native. “Everyone did a good job responding to the few deficiencies we found. We all came to a cooperative level in ensuring everything was secured.”
TCCOR I was declared at 3 a.m. Saturday, and moved to I(Caution) by 7 p.m., at which time all non-essential military and civilian personnel had been released from work and were en route to or already in their quarters.
According to Young, Weather received a number of calls from confused residents inquiring about actions required per each condition of readiness.
“There was some miscommunication on when people could go outside,” Young said. “Personnel should read the Destructive Weather Bill if they have any questions about that.”
Although briefed by his command on typhoon procedures and conditions of readiness, Lance Cpl. Malcolm S. Leachman, Combat Logistics Company 36 basic metal worker, feels awareness of the Destructive Weather Bill is a personal responsibility of those stationed here.
“I’d hear that we weren’t supposed to leave the barracks, but then I’d see people walking to the chow hall,” said Leachman, a Palm Bay, Fla., native. “(The Destructive Weather Bill) is something I’ll be more familiar with before the next typhoon.”
Although Iwakuni survived Man-yi with no reported injuries or damage, Kim Han warns residents not to get complacent.
"Don’t take for granted from past experience that a storm isn’t going to be so bad – that’s where you suffer,” Kim Han said.
“Planning and preparedness is key,” he added.
To download a copy of the Destructive Weather Bill, visithttp://www.iwakuni.usmc.mil/ and click on the weather link.