A this point, it looks like the approaching typhoon is more likely to be a probl…

A this point, it looks like the approaching typhoon is more likely to be a problem for Okinawa than for Kumamoto – though we will probably feel its effects to some extent. If the prediction on the TropicalStormRisk website is correct, it may be a Category 4 when it hits Okinawa sometime around Thursday or so.

http://www.tropicalstormrisk.com

Hurricane Katrina (2005) was a Category 3 or 4 when it actually hit New Orleans so that gives you an idea of what Okinawa might be facing.

By the way, the July issue of the Shisei-Dayori (City Info) has an article about the cancellation of garbage collection in the event of a typhoon:

http://www.kumamoto-if.or.jp/topics/topics_detail.asp?PageID=5&ID=7915&pg=1&sort=0&LC=e

The sources that they indicate that should be checked for confirmation, however, are all in Japanese. For example, Kumamoto City’s emergency page:

http://www.city.kumamoto.jp/kinkyu/pub/default.aspx?c_id=3

If you have trouble understanding information in Japanese , perhaps its a good idea to check with a friend or neighbor you can communicate with more easily. Or, when in doubt, save your garbage for the next collection day.