As neighbors cleared downed trees and cleaned up the wreckage left by Typhoon Mawar on Friday, chainsaws whirred. The typhoon that ravaged Guam was the strongest to strike the island in more than two decades.
Although it is still early in the recovery process, Sgt. Paul Tapao stated that there was no major damage and the main roads are passable. “Guam is very fortunate to have had no storm-related death or serious injury.”
The roaring of the saws reminded Tapao of the resiliency of the people and territory of the U.S. Pacific Territory, which is prone to storms.
MAWAR STRIKES GUAM, KONSTINCTING OUT POWER & FORCING A BOIL WATER ADVISORY
He said, “Everyone is involved in the cleaning.” “That’s Guamanian culture — it’s in the blood.”
He said that in the Chamorro language, the indigenous tongue of the Mariana Islands, there is a phrase “inafa Maolek” that means harmony and cooperation.
He said that the storms had taught his island how to be resilient. “We’re here.”
Officials said that it may take several weeks to clean the mess left behind after Mawar, a Category 4 hurricane, briefly hit the island on Wednesday night. The storm flipped cars, ripped off roofs, and stripped trees of their leaves.
Tapao reported that some villages were without water or had very little on Friday. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, about 51,000 customers are without electricity. Officials reported that there were 725 people staying in shelters on Friday, compared to nearly 1,000 people who were in them on Thursday.
After Typhoon Mawar has passed through the area, water floods a Hagatna building on May 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Grace Garces Bordallo).
Water contamination due to heavy rains was a major concern. The Guam Waterworks Authority advised residents to boil their water before drinking, and the Guam Environmental Protection Agency advised people to avoid the sea on all beaches due to the high bacteria content.
As the eyewall passed, the central and northern areas of the island experienced more than two feet of rain. The swirling typhoon created a storm wave and smashed through coastal reefs, flooding houses.
He said that in the southeast village of Yona the floodwaters were so high they reached the waists of Alexander Ken M. Aflague’s sister-in law and mother-inlaw. Two trucks and an SUV had been completely submerged.
Aflague said that the mood in the island is similar to the one after every storm as people assess damage and work toward restoring their lives. He said that his main concern was the shortages. Supplies were similar to those in the early days of COVID-19.
He said, via text message: “The cleanup can be a struggle, but we all pitch-in and help eachother.”
EMERGENCY SHELDERS IN GUAM BEGIN FILLING AS RESIDENTS BRACE TYPHOON MAWAR
Enrique Baza’s mother’s home in Yona was also damaged by the winds, which ripped off the roof. Water flooded everything inside. He said that his mother stayed with him in the concrete house, but “my mum’s home didn’t survive.”
After the storm, he drove around in his pickup to find supplies for her roof. However, most stores had no power and only accepted cash. Many wooden and tin houses were severely damaged or collapsed.
Baza stated, “It is a bit of a surprise.”
Joe Biden, the president of the United States, declared on Friday that Guam is experiencing a major catastrophe and ordered federal assistance to help with recovery efforts.
On Friday, there were long queues at some gas stations and stores as well as ATMs.
Officials have said that they expect to be able resume operations in the A.B. The Won Pat International Airport is expected to reopen on Tuesday.
Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero declared the island safe and ready for action Thursday evening. The National Weather Service lifted the typhoon warning.
Leon Guerrero stated, “We have weathered this storm.”
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According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau, the storm will continue to move northwest before turning sharply to the north on Tuesday or Wednesday. This track would keep it at sea for several days, as it slowly weakens.
Mawar regained the status of a super-typhoon Thursday with winds exceeding 150 mph. According to the weather service, by early Friday morning, winds had reached 175 mph.
Mawar, Guam’s northern neighbor, was 345 miles to the west-northwest and 360 miles away. It moved west-northwest, at 14 mph, on Friday morning.
Carlo Quinonez lives in Tamuning and said that he stayed at a nearby hotel to ride out the storm. He felt “very fortunate” that the building remained largely intact. Quinonez reported that a nearby abandoned building had lost most of its windows, as well as a portion of the wall at the fifth floor.
The peak was what made us doubt our safety. The walls and floors creak. “I’m throwing debris, roots and fruit all over the place,” he wrote an email.
According to an official in the United States, the Navy has ordered that the USS Nimitz aircraft carriers strike group head to Guam to help with the recovery efforts. According to the official who spoke under condition of anonymity in order to discuss ship movements that have not yet been made public, the Nimitz along with the USS Bunker Hill cruiser and the USS Wayne E. Meyer destroyer were south of Japan. They are expected to arrive at Guam within three to four days.
