Nov. 22, 2006
Story ID#: 200611210347

By Lance Cpl. David Rogers, MCB Camp Butler

CAMP SCHWAB, OKINAWA, Japan (Nov. 22, 2006) -- A powerful storm, most likely a tornado, slammed Camp Schwab around 1 p.m. Nov. 18 injuring three Marines in the parking lot of the Post Exchange and leaving several cars overturned and buildings damaged.

The Marines suffered minor injuries and were taken to the camp medical clinic where they were treated and released according to Petty Officer 2nd Class Francis Alcanciado, a hospital corpsman and a section head for the Acute Care Area at the Camp Schwab medical clinic.

The camp post office, enlisted barracks, Beachhead club, and theater all sustained minor damage.

An electrical transformer in the exchange parking lot was also damaged and several power lines were knocked down. None of the damage was severe and maintenance crews of the Facility Engineer detachment have finished cleaning up the area, according Sgt. Daniel Carter, the Camp Schwab maintenance detachment noncommissioned officer-in-charge. Power has been restored and the camp has resumed normal operations.

Kadena Air Base's 18 Operational Support Squadron Weather Flight is currently analyzing all metrological and physical data available, including ground and aerial photos and eye witness accounts, to determine if the storm was a tornado, as has been widely reported.

The storm could have also been a microburst, an extremely powerful, short, downward gust of air that can reach speeds of 100 mph and produce damage similar to a tornado, said Capt. Jonathan Wilson, the commander of the Kadena Weather Flight.

There was a warm front moving through an area of low pressure when the storm occurred. Though these conditions are capable of producing severe weather, they are not uncommon this time of year, Wilson said.

These are not circumstances that would normally produce a tornado or microburst, and there is currently no solid evidence to support that it was either, Wilson said.

Wilson maintains that no matter the classification, this storm was an isolated incident and future occurrences are not likely. However, he cautioned that weather is unpredictable and personnel should seek shelter when severe weather is present.