Typhoon Time! Seriously, I'm scared to death...

Welcome to the Island, Typhoon Morakot! GO AWAY NOW!

Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness 3 was issued for Okinawa at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in advance of Tropical Storm Morakot, the ninth named storm of the season, officials at Kadena Air Base’s 18th Wing Weather Flight said.

Should Okinawa feel Morakot’s full force, it would be the first significant tropical storm to hit the island since Man-yi unleashed 105 mph winds and 10 inches of rain on July 13, 2007.

At 6 p.m. Tuesday, Morakot sat 550 miles east-southeast of Okinawa, churning west-northwest at 12 mph, packing sustained 46 mph winds with 58 mph gusts. Joint Typhoon Warning Center forecasts called for Morakot to rapidly move past Okinawa on Friday and into China early Saturday.

Kadena Weather Flight forecasts call for Okinawa to feel Morakot’s outer bands starting just after 6 p.m. Wednesday, with winds increasing into Thursday, when gusts of up to 70 mph could come between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Winds should dissipate by early Saturday morning.

Much depends on the storm’s forward speed, said Senior Master Sgt. Brian McDonald of the 18th Wing Weather Flight.

The storm’s current rapid movement “doesn’t give it a chance to really strengthen much,” he said. “If it slows down dramatically, it will be a stronger storm, which is what we don’t want.”

Base officials strongly recommended securing outdoor items; cobbling together typhoon kits with flashlights, bottled water and nonperishable foods; and putting towels under windows and doors to keep water out.

This is the lovely typhoon that I have been preparing for since Mr. Top Gun came home last night and informed me of this lovely little guests arrival! I was happy and excited that I got an appt. booked in Flight Medicine on Friday, but as he told me: "Yeah, I don't think your appt. is gonna happen..." WTF!!??! I have been here less than two weeks and in that time span have managed to do the following: 1. Managed to find our dream home before mandatory base housing kicked in. 2. Received my Japanese drivers license. 3. Purchased some cars. 4. Learned the basic Japanese greetings, customs and courtesies. 5. Been greeted at the airport upon our arrival and told this.. "Mr. Top Gun is on the next trip to the giant sandbox." "Oh, welcome to Japan!" 6. Received our temporary furniture, went shopping for food and stocked my pantry up. 7. TYPHOON MORAKOT is ON IT'S WAY!!!! 8. Freaked out (still am) ran to the commissary to get 4 HUGE 48 pack cases of bottled water, enough soup to live on for a week, break, milk, plastic baggies of all sizes, tissues for an entire Army, rice, extra towels to mop up water with, ice, plastic cups and bowels and utensils and plates, batteries and flashlights and the best part? Starkist Tuna lunch to go packs- which Mr. Top Gun conveniently picked up in the back of the commissary in the "Typhoon Preparedness Center." Seriously, he was uber excited about having found a 20 pack of them! Oh, Mr. Top Gun you are easily amused and I love you dearly even if you are a donkey :P

I will keep everyone posted as to how things are going over on my side of the pond, as long as I have power and internet access. I would like to ask all of my lovely blog buddies to please keep Mr. Top Gun and I in your prayers as well as the rest of the island, as we all ride this one out. May God keep us in his hands!