StormingB81 wrote:Infdiddoll...we know how most of these people are here in Okinawa..and Songda changes nobody's mind! A typhoon does not come here it always turns...I am afriad to say this but if it becomes near a cat 5 and hits a little lower and hits us dead on I am afriad how many people WILL NOT be prepared....Its kinda scary!
You know, it's only half the military folks or former military that have retired and now live on the island or civilian contractors. The longer they've been on-island, the worse. They have this "invincible" atttitude and if you mention a storm coming they start name-calling, insulting your intelligence, etc. while talking about how it's no big deal. Well, it IS a big deal. We're not talking about the end of the world, but we're talking it's kind of nice to know a week in advance that a storm is coming so you can secure your house, vehicles, double check your travel plans, not rush the stores all at once, etc. It's not a time to bash people that are scared because you have "been through worse". I don't blame those who are scared. I fully admit I was my first experience with a typhoon. I was much calmer with Songda, but at her peak, you bet I had sweaty palms! Guilty secret is that I kind of love the adrenaline, but only after the experience.
I live off base - I notice all the Okinawans take storms seriously, but they DO wait until the last minute to pull things inside. The Okinawans will be outside in 50kt winds pulling things in the house. They just don't have the Western OVER-caution that we're taught about their own mortality.
(You have to admit - kids in safety seats until they're 100 lbs? Seriously? While there are no car seat rules in Okinawa for children). However, they would be VERY distraught if their own stupidity caused the death or injury to a neighbor because they didn't take a storm seriously. Local mentality almost seems to be - Secure your house, then go play in it! At the same time, you have the tough, veteran (not military veteran, but as in one who has been there, done that) with no responsibility whatsoever who is more concerned with calling other people idiots than securing their crap. The Americans who pooh-poohed the storm will be huddled inside watching their stuff go flying because they are too afraid to go outside.

It's frustrating, really.
After Songda, I heard a few people regretting they didn't take it seriously. I have a neighbor who regrets the person who had their satellite dish above his car didn't remove it. Their satellite dish went through the sunroof of his car.