A volunteer holds up a sign directing mock evacuees during an exercise at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Sept. 7, 2024. (Brian McElhiney/Stars and Stripes)
KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa — Nearly 100 Okinawans walked through the home of the 18th Wing during a tsunami evacuation drill over the weekend, many carrying fresh memories of an actual alert in April.
Chatan residents of all ages walked the evacuation route Saturday under a glaring morning sun. It took them through Gate 1 and up to Marek Park, about 200 feet above sea level.
The route is a little less than one mile, but during an actual alert, like the one April 3, they would continue through Gate 5, a total of about 2 ½ miles.
About 50 airmen from various base units, including the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron, 18th Civil Engineer Group, security and medical personnel, helped guide the 97 mock evacuees to the park, said wing spokesman Tech. Sgt. Micaiah Anthony.
“Many members of Team Kadena proudly call Chatan town home, with some living right here in Miyagi and Sunabe,” Col. Robinson Mata, 18th Mission Support Group commander, told the crowd after the exercise. “Building mutual awareness and readiness for tsunamis and other natural disasters is essential for all of us.”
An airman directs mock evacuees during an exercise at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Sept. 7, 2024. (Brian McElhiney/Stars and Stripes)
An earthquake near Taiwan on April 3 generated a tsunami alert on Okinawa, prompting about 250 Chatan residents to enter Kadena through Gate 1 and evacuate through Gate 5 to “a surrounding location … safe from the impact of the tsunami,” wing spokesman 1st Lt. Robert Dabbs said by email Aug. 23.
Saturday’s practice is the first under the Aug. 21 renewal of an agreement between the 18th Wing and Chatan to conduct evacuation drills on base and open the gates for evacuation during natural disasters.
The renewal extends the agreement through February 2028, a spokesman for Chatan town’s Military Base Affairs and Safety Division said by phone Aug. 30.
Some government officials in Japan are required to speak to the media only on condition of anonymity.
Also in August, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a megaquake advisory for the Nankai Trough, indicating a higher-than-usual risk for a large earthquake in Japan.
Last year, about 60 people took part in the Kadena exercise, the first in five years and the first following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Members of the 18th Civil Engineer Group’s Readiness and Emergency Management Flight set up tables alongside water stations to provide the mock evacuees with information about preparing for disasters.
Chatan town residents queue for information and giveaways during a tsunami evacuation exercise at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Sept. 7, 2024. (Brian McElhiney/Stars and Stripes)
Improvements over last year’s exercise included use of the base loudspeaker to alert residents in English and Japanese, said flight superintendent Senior Master Sgt. Randy Golleher. Chatan town also sent a text message alert to all phones in the area, he said.
“We identified that as a need to improve last year; added it to this year,” he said. “That was a good thing.”
