OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- As typhoon season begins across the Korean Peninsula, Airmen and their families are encouraged to review emergency plans, understand Tropical Cyclone Conditions of Readiness levels and ensure they have the supplies needed to weather severe storms.
Typhoon season runs from June 1st and ends November 30th. Typhoons can bring a variety of hazards, including destructive winds capable of sending debris airborne, heavy rainfall and storm surges that raise water levels and intensify wave activity.
Given these hazards, it’s important to be cautious during and after the storm as they can have cascading effects including sewage issues, roadway erosion and landslides.
"Even though we might not get a direct hit, we are still very susceptible to high winds, heavy rainfall and flash flooding that can really impact our operations on base, as well as pose additional dangers at home, such as power and electricity issues," said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Cashley Redd, 51st Civil Engineer Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of operations.
To help installations prepare for approaching typhoons, the military uses TCCOR levels, which provide an approximate timetable of an approaching typhoon. Personnel should be familiar with each TCCOR level and the actions associated with them.
TCCOR Levels
- TCCOR 5 – Winds of 50 knots (58 mph) sustained or greater are possible within 96 hours.
- TCCOR 4 – Winds of 50 knots (58 mph) sustained or greater are possible within 72 hours.
- TCCOR 3 – Winds of 50 knots (58 mph) sustained or greater are possible within 48 hours.
- TCCOR 2 – Winds of 50 knots (58 mph) sustained or greater are anticipated within 24 hours.
- TCCOR 1 – Winds of 50 knots (58 mph) sustained or greater are anticipated within 12 hours.
- TCCOR 1C (Caution) – Sustained winds of 35-49 knots are occurring.
- TCCOR 1E (Emergency) – Winds of 50 knots sustained and/or gusts of 60 knots or greater are OCCURRING.
- TCCOR 1R (Recovery) – Destructive winds have subsided and are no longer forecasted to occur, work crews are permitted to survey damage, nonessential personnel should remain indoors.
- TCCOR All Clear – Destructive winds have passed and are no longer forecasted to occur; recovery is complete.
Typhoon readiness is so important. I don't think people generally think about typhoon readiness when they think about Osan Air Base or South Korea, but there is actually an average of one to three typhoons that come close or pass the peninsula each year.Staff Sgt. Cashley Redd
To preserve readiness, every household should maintain a 72-hour emergency kit before a storm threatens the area. Emergency kits should include:
- Water (one gallon per person per day for at least three days)
- Nonperishable food (at least a three-day supply)
- Battery-powered radio with extra batteries
- Cell phone and charger
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Hygiene products
- Manual can opener for canned goods
- Towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
“Once TCCOR 1C is declared, all non-essential travel is suspended; if you haven’t acquired food, water or other essentials by this time, you will not have another opportunity until the storm passes and we have entered the recovery phase,” said Redd.
Proactive typhoon readiness helps reduce potential impacts on personnel and operations while fostering a culture of readiness across the installation. To stay informed and learn more about effective preparedness, visit the following sources:
Resources
Emergency Contacts
- Emergency Management: DSN: 784-1348 | Commercial: +82-505-784-1348
For further information on typhoon readiness, personnel and families can consult the 2026 Osan Air Base Typhoon Guide.