01/09/2020
Maysak
🌀Here is a bit of knowledge you may or may not have known about how locals gauge the typhoon strength. It is commonly known among the local Okinawa population that it is time to really get serious when the 24hr UNION (ユニオン) supermarkets close. The supermarket is known to rarely ever close even in the harshest weather conditions.
The last time UNION closed was in 2018 during Typhoon Trami and only a few stores out of 18 closed. This time however, ALL stores have dimmed their lights and all employees returned home late last night. This is a pretty big deal in Okinawa that #ユニオン (UNION) has even made the top 20 trending tweets in Japan. 😅
As of 3am, 37,300 households are without power and there are reports that a couple of roofs were blown off in Naha.
(Local news translated and periodically updated in the “story” section)
~ Mari