Camp Foster, Okinawa -- 
Upon arrival on Okinawa most service members are instantly aware Okinawa’s clear skies and sandy beaches. This alluring tropical weather can cause many service members to forget about the eight-month typhoon season when those same clear skies turn dark grey and the calm blue waters shift to raging waves. These circumstances can produce typhoons and cause storm-water surges, flooding, landslides and property damage, according to the American Red Cross International Services.
In preparation for typhoon season, Marine Corps Installations Pacific encourages the Marine Corps community on Okinawa to participate in America’s PrepareAthon.
The campaign, coordinated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in support of President Obama’s National Preparedness directive, commences April 10 and continues through May 28. All service members and their families are encouraged to actively improve their readiness on April 30 the National PrepareAthon Day, or at any point during the campaign.
“Marines train to face possible threats, learning to implement practiced responses for any contingency,” said Mark Brown, Marine Corps Installation Command, G-3, Operation and Training, Installation Protection Branch Emergency Management Section Head. “Preparing for a flood, hurricane, or other disaster isn’t any different. When the threat is real, the response must be too.”
Marines, families and personnel are encouraged to initiate at least one action in preparation for possible hazards in their region. Before a typhoon, personnel should to stock up on essential items such as water, non-perishable food items, flashlights, batteries and first aid supplies. Residents are also encouraged to create communication plans, build an emergency kit, store important documents in a waterproof container, and conduct maintenance throughout their property to reduce potential injury and damage.
MCIPAC supports the DOD’s goal of creating a culture of preparedness. The strength of a community’s resilience stems from personal preparedness. By participating in the PrepareAthon, service members bolster their personal readiness as well as their local community and ultimately the Marine Corps as a whole.
For more information on how to prepare for this year’s typhoon season, visit
www.ready.marines.mil and follow the program on Facebook and Twitter @ReadyUSMC. Contact Ready Marine Corps at
Ready@usmc.mil.