Storm's-a-Comin'?

Typhoon Mawar is spinning southeast of us and it looks like Okinawa is going to get some rough weather tonight. We are in TCCOR 4 here in Yokosuka. TCCOR is Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness. It is nothing like the watch/warning system the National Weather System uses. Instead, it is a timing system to allow military units (and the rest of us) to prepare for a storm that has winds of greater than 50 knots.

The listed system below is used island-wide by the United States Forces Japan personnel. Its objective is to prevent injury and property damage thru awareness and preparation.

TCCOR 4 -- Destructive winds of 50 knots or greater are possible within 72 hours. Stock up on food,bottled water, dry milk, batteries,flashlights,candles, and other emergency supplies. Don't wait too long or you will face long lines and possibly short supplies.

TCCOR 3 -- Destructive winds of 50 knots or greater are possible within 48 hours. Initiate a general clean up of outside areas. Pick up loose items such as toys,garden tools,and lawn furniture.

TCCOR 2 -- Destructive winds of 50 knots or greater are possible within 24 hours. Store or secure all outdoor property such as picnic tables, potted plants, grills, and sheds to prevent damage. Bring trash cans into storage areas. The cans and lids can cause damage if left unsecured.

TCCOR 1 -- Destructive winds of 50 knots or greater are possible within 12 hours. DoDD schools are closed. Full any available empty container with water. Make a final checks of food, water, batteries, etc.

TCCOR 1 CAUTION -- Winds are blowing at 34 to 49 knots and are expected to reach 50 knots or more within 12 hours. All outdoor activities should cease, except those in direct support of urgent military missions. All non-mission-essential personnel are released from work and should be off the streets and in their residences.

TCCOR 1 EMERGENCY -- Destructive winds of 50 knots or greater are occurring. Power failure may occur. All outside activities are prohibited. Listen to AFN radio or TV for current typhoon information.

TCCOR 1 RECOVERY -- Destructive winds passed but winds of 34 to 49 knots are still occurring. All outside activities are prohibited except for damage assessment ad repair teams begin their operations.

TC-STORM WATCH -- The typhoon is moving away. However, there might be hazardous areas storm has damaged. Normal activities may resume with caution two hours after the declaration of Storm Watch, but stay alert in case the storm returns.

ALL CLEAR -- All tropical cyclone danger has passed. DoDD schools restart if it is during class hours. The typhoon danger has passed. Normal readiness. Be alert to hazardous areas where the storm has damaged.

The TCCOR system doesn't take into account varying intensities. It's difficult to adjust to the TCCOR system after living on the East Coast and planning for hurricanes based on wind speeds.

Weather Underground and the Japan Meteorological Association show the typhoon turning out to sea, so I'm only thinking about putting all the stuff in the backyard away. TCCOR 2, if issued, will send me outside to put all of the outdoor toys in the shed, patio chairs in the corner, and the patio table pinning the chairs against the house.

I find it interesting that the base is taking this storm somewhat seriously. I think it is because they totally messed up last September during a typhoon. We were in TCCOR 3 one not-so-sunny morning in September, but JMA showed the storm turning inland and making landfall just to the north of us in about 8 hours. But, the base's weather guys wouldn't budge. I decided to pay attention to JMA and put everything outside away. Then, I went on about my business. Tricia came to babysit while I went to my OB appointment. While I was in the exam room, I happened to check Facebook on my phone (doc was running late) and saw that TCCOR 1 Caution was suddenly issued. We skipped TCCOR 2 and 1 and went straight to panic. I hurried home and shooed Tricia home. We were fine, but the change in status came just as they were letting school out. So, school buses trying to get kids home to off-base housing and the base housing areas in Zushi and Yokohama were competing with the workers who were suddenly allowed to come home. It took some buses over an hour just to get off the base. On base kids were walking in the wind and sideways rain. Unsecured objects were flying. It was a mess. The weather guys didn't do their jobs that day and now they are gun-shy. I can't say I blame them. But, I think it also shows the TCCOR system isn't exactly helpful. Maybe they keep using it to help everyone prepare, but maybe also employ the watch/warning system and rate the storms' intensities (categories 1-5 like those of us in the States are already used to)? I know I would take it more seriously if they said that we are in TCCOR 4 for a category 1 storm. Do you think there is a suggestion box somewhere to share my idea?