By Jim Garamone
DoD News, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, July 7, 2014 – American personnel on the
Japanese island of Okinawa are battening down the hatches and securing
airfields and facilities ahead of Super Typhoon Neoguri.
Japanese forecasters say the storm already has winds over
150 mph, and it is bearing down on the Ryukyu Islands, home to about 30,000
American service members and their families.
Forecasters say the storm will hit Okinawa tomorrow with
heavy rain and powerful winds.
Air Force Brig. Gen. James Hecker, the commander of the 18th
Wing at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, declared Tropical Cyclone Condition of
Readiness 3, and the base began evacuating aircraft yesterday.
“I can’t stress enough how dangerous this typhoon may be
when it hits Okinawa,” Hecker said in a message to the community. “This is not
just another typhoon.” Neoguri is the most powerful typhoon forecast to hit the
island in 15 years.
Officials are evacuating 61 U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine
Corps aircraft from Okinawa to Guam, mainland Japan, the Philippines and South
Korea, said Pentagon spokesman Marine Corps Lt. Col. Jeff Pool. Aircraft moving
include C-130 Hercules aircraft, P-3 Orions, P-8 Poseidons and KC-135
Stratotankers.
“The remaining helicopters and jets on Okinawa are being
sheltered in protected hangars,” Pool said.
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