In Okinawa, life doesn’t function without a car. At the same time, a car is also one of the household possessions most vulnerable to typhoon damage. Flying debris, flooding, and salt damage — all three can be cut down considerably depending on what you do before and after the typhoon.

1. Where to park

Once a typhoon’s track comes into view, reconsider where you park. Here’s the priority order.

  1. Indoors, or a multi-story parking structure (safest — blocks both flying debris and the wind and rain)
  2. On the leeward side of a building, somewhere with little flying debris
  3. Even if outdoors, somewhere away from the coast, low ground, and riverbanks

Places to avoid are just as specific.

  • A coastal parking lot — sea spray from wave overtopping will hit it, causing far worse salt damage
  • Low ground, near an underpass — these flood
  • Under a large tree, near a sign or utility pole — if it falls, it can crush the car
  • Downwind of anywhere loose objects are sitting

Okinawa Prefecture’s typhoon guidance advises, “secure anything that could be blown by the wind, or move it somewhere sheltered from the wind.” Think of your car as one of the things you may need to move, too.

It’s safest to close the windows completely and leave the wipers down (if left standing up, they can catch the wind and break).

2. Never, under any circumstances, drive into a flooded road

This isn’t just about the car — it’s a matter of life and death.

When a road floods from a typhoon or heavy rain, you can’t tell what’s under the surface. Whether the pavement has given way, or a manhole cover has come loose, you can’t see it from above. And water collects in low-lying spots such as underpasses, more than anywhere else.

  • Don’t enter even if the water looks shallow. Misjudge it, and your car can be stranded, with you inside
  • Once the engine stalls, it won’t restart (and as the next section covers, you shouldn’t try)
  • Water pressure can prevent the doors from opening

Road closure information during a typhoon can be reached from the Cabinet Office Okinawa General Bureau’s “Disaster (Typhoon, etc.) Related Information”. It brings together road closures, bus and monorail service status, power outages, and shelter openings in one place, making it a useful starting point when you don’t know where else to look.

That said, the most important rule is simply not to take your car out in strong wind and heavy rain in the first place. Even if there’s a real need to move it, confirm official traffic information before deciding.

3. What you must absolutely never do to a submerged car

This is the most important section. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism states this clearly about vehicles that have been flooded or submerged:

A vehicle that has been submerged in water can carry a risk of electric shock, or of a vehicle fire caused by a short circuit in the electrical system, even if it looks perfectly fine from the outside.

And it gives these instructions:

  • “Do not start the engine yourself.”
  • “Disconnect the negative terminal of the battery.” Cover the disconnected terminal with tape or similar so it can’t come into contact with the battery
  • “Consult the dealer where you purchased the vehicle, or your nearest repair shop.”

The Ministry gives a particularly strong warning specifically for electrified vehicles:

Hybrid vehicles (HVs) and electric vehicles (EVs) carry high-voltage batteries — do not touch them carelessly.

“Let’s just see if it still runs” can be the trigger for a vehicle fire. If your car has been submerged, the order to follow is: don’t start the engine, go to a professional first.

If you’re not confident disconnecting the battery terminal yourself — especially with an HV or EV — don’t force it. Contact the dealer or a repair shop instead.

4. After the typhoon passes — salt damage unique to Okinawa

A typhoon’s wind and rain carry sea salt with them. In Okinawa, salt residue is left on a car’s body after a typhoon passes even if you’re nowhere near the coast. Left alone, it causes rust.

Once the typhoon has passed and it’s safe, rinsing it off as soon as possible is the basic rule. Pay particular attention to washing the undercarriage, where water doesn’t reach easily and salt tends to remain.

But here’s where the water outage article becomes relevant. The Okinawa Prefecture Enterprise Bureau makes this request about the period right after a typhoon:

If everyone uses water at once for cleaning their homes and washing their cars, supply may not keep up with demand, and a water outage or similar issue can occur.

In other words, if everyone washes their car at once on the morning after the typhoon clears, the area can suffer a water outage. Kin Town asks for cooperation on non-urgent water use, requesting it be “spaced out by roughly a day or two.”

It’s understandable to want to hurry, but wait a day. Salt damage won’t become fatal in a single day. A water outage is a far more serious problem for the community as a whole.

Summary

  1. Before the typhoon — move it indoors, or somewhere away from the coast, low ground, and trees
  2. During the typhoon — don’t drive. Never enter a flooded road
  3. If it’s been submerged — don’t start the engine. Don’t touch an HV or EV. Contact a professional
  4. After the typhoon — wait a day before washing it (to avoid triggering a water outage)

What this article does not cover

Road closures and where flooding is currently occurring are not covered by this site. Always check official up-to-date information. For assessing your vehicle’s condition or whether it can be repaired, consult the dealer or a repair shop.