Okinawa Exchange Facilities Provide Extra Support During Typhoon Khanun’s One-Two Punch
All Exchange facilities in Okinawa have reopened after Typhoon Khanun dealt the island chain a double blow last week, during which Okinawa stores took advantage of a two-day window of calm to provide extra support to their communities.
Stores closed Tuesday and Wednesday as the typhoon initially struck Okinawa as a category 4-level storm. After the initial impact passed, most Okinawa Exchange facilities reopened with extended hours on Thursday and Friday, taking advantage of the small window before the typhoon made a return trip on Saturday.
At Kadena Air Base, the BX, Burger King and Subway all opened early. The Olympic Express planed to stay open 24 hours until a TCCOR 1C alert was called because of the typhoon. The alert, called when winds of 50 knots or greater are anticipated within 12 hours, was called at 7 p.m. Friday Okinawa time.
An associate at the Camp Kinser Excchange branch store took this photo of damage during Typhoon Khanun’s first round on Okinawa.
Exchanges at Camps Foster, Kinser and Courtney opened early Thursday, and Exchanges at Camps Hansen and Schwab closed later than usual, allowing Okinawa customers more time to get crucial supplies. Expresses at Camps Kinser and Courtney stayed open till midnight, two hours later than their usual closing time.
Food-court restaurants at Kinser, Foster, Courtney and Schwab either opened early or closed later. Service stations were open at Kadena, Foster, Schwab, Hansen and Torii Station. At Torii, the Express and Subway kept later hours.
“What an amazing day,” said David Swenson, general manager of the Okinawa Consolidated Exchange. “The team is pulling together and making it happen.” Swenson oversees the largest Exchange in the organization, with more than 10 installations, totaling 117 retail and food operations.
By Wednesday evening Okinawa time, the worst parts of the storm had passed, but some strong winds were still occurring, Swenson said. Conditions were still TCCOR 1E, meaning outdoor movement was prohibited and residents were instructed to remain indoors.
Typhoon Khanun damage near Camp Kinser.
Many of the installations experienced power failures, meaning that frozen and chilled food products will likely be lost as a result of the intense storm. As of Thursday afternoon Okinawa time, only the Camp Shields Exchange remained without power.
As the storm returned, TCCOR 1 Emergency was declared at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, meaning that 50-knot (58 mph) winds were occurring, and all personnel were instructed to remain inside and away from windows. TCCOR 1 Recovery (personnel are instructed to remain at home unless called to work by their unit commander) was declared at midnight.
An all-clear was issued at 7 p.m. Sunday. Gusty winds and isolated rain showers were still possible, but conditions were expected to improve by Tuesday morning.
During a meeting last week with Marine Corps Installations Pacific (MCIPAC) Commander Maj. Gen. Stephen Liszewski, other installation commanders and mission partners, Swenson detailed extended support plans and later coordinated the prompt receipt of additional product from the Okinawa Distribution Center after Defense Commissary Agency containers were delayed by the storm.
Liszewski thanked the Exchange for its crucial role in planning for recovery operations, Swenson said.
According to CNN, the typhoon generated 137 mph winds as it passed southwestern Okinawa early Wednesday. Locations in Okinawa reported 6 to 8 inches of rain by early Wednesday, according to the network.
Pacific Region Senior Vice President Jesus Martinez said that Swenson “has done a super job communicating and the team certainly knows how to prepare.”
