Local Community Practices Evacuation Procedures for Typhoons aboard Camp Foster

Photo By Sgt. Tayler Schwamb | CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan— Col. William L. Depue speaks to the participants of the annual Chatan evacuation drill Sep. 8 aboard Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. Each year, with Camp Foster’s support, Chatan performs an evacuation drill allowing the local community to familiarize themselves with the evacuation route in case of an emergency. Camp Foster has an agreement with Chatan and Ginowan City that in the event of a natural disaster, such as tsunamis, the local community can pass through the military base in order to safely and efficiently get to higher ground. Depue is the camp commander of Camp Foster and commanding officer of Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan. (U.S. Marine photo by Lance Cpl. Tayler P. Schwamb)  

CHATAN, OKINAWA, JAPAN

09.08.2017

Story by Lance Cpl. Tayler Schwamb 

Marine Corps Installations Pacific

The Chatan local community participated in the sixth annual typhoon evacuation drill Sept. 8 aboard Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan.

Each year, with Camp Foster’s support, the Chatan community performing an evacuation drill allowing the local community to familiarize themselves with the evacuation route in case of an emergency.

Camp Foster has an agreement with Chatan and Ginowan City that in the event of a natural disaster, such as tsunamis, the local community can pass through the military base in order to safely and efficiently get to higher ground, according to Col. William L. DePue, the camp commander of Camp Foster and commanding officer of Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan.

“The earthquake and Tsunami that we saw in northern Japan which led to Operation Tomodachi would be a prime example of why this is so important,” said DePue. “That Tsunami brought to light that we do live on an island that has portions below sea level and, in the case of an emergency, we need the best way to get all of our neighbors to safe ground. Chatan has a great relationship with Camp Foster and I am extremely honored to be a part of the evacuation plan, helping provide an evacuation route in the safest manner. I hope that in the future we can practice these procedures, so we can all be more prepared to keep each other safe if a natural disaster was to occur.”

• Date Taken: 09.08.2017
• Date Posted: 09.08.2017 06:05
• Story ID: 247419
• Location: CHATAN, OKINAWA, JP