Ready Marine Corps

Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan --
Okinawa residents took part in a tsunami evacuation drill Sept. 4 aboard Camp Foster. The tsunami evacuation route to promote safety and awareness in the event of an emergency.

September is natural disaster awareness month on Okinawa and the evacuation drill served to promote safety and raise awareness by preparing participants for potential natural disasters.

“The purpose of the drill is to familiarize the citizens with the route they would have to take to reach higher ground in the event of an emergency,” said Lee Eureste, deputy camp commander of Camp Foster. “The base gates would be open to let Okinawa citizens through, and we would lead them to safety.”

It is vital to be prepared for the unexpected, according to Masakatsu Kamiyama. During the drill, the residents were an estimated amount of time to complete their evacuation of tsunami zones.

“Having the opportunity to walk on the base helps the residents confirm the route they should take, and also confirm the amount of time it takes to walk to safety,” said Kamiyama, vice mayor of Chatan town.

Approximately 56 Okinawa residents from Chatan town participated in the drill to enhance their safety and readiness.

“In the event of an emergency, collaboration between service members and Okinawa residents is vital to ensure everyone is on the right track to safety,” said Kamiyama. “We will continue to work together to improve safety measures every year.”