Although 50 Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel arrived in Guam before Typhoon Mawar, another 150 are making their way to the island. Virtually, 220 are supporting the region’s recovery efforts, according to Robert Barker, public affairs specialist for FEMA’s Region 9.
Some of those are “program specific” people, who will assess public infrastructure as well as damage to homes. Subject matter experts began assessments on May 25, and were continuing assessments. “We’re still doing it today, Barker told the Journal on May 26. The situation on Guam is “super fluid,” he said. “The process for us is, damage assessments are being pushed up,” Barker said. Teams on the way will look at utilities, schools, and also see if there has been permanent damage.
After a declaration of emergency as in Guam’s case, FEMA works with other federal partners and the local government and its agencies, which include the Guam Office of Civil Defense and Homeland Security, working out of that office. “We’re all co-located in the same room,” he said.
As FEMA arrived before Typhoon Mawar hit the island, it was able to requisition 100 generators which are already on Guam, with another 60 on route.
Aside from FEMA personnel, Barker said personnel from the U.S. government on-island include those from the Department of Health and Social Services, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Corps of Engineers, the Department of Transport, and the Department of Energy.
Other Typhoon Mawar news as of May 26:
Pay-Less Supermarkets opened early the morning of May 26. Some had to close when fuel for generators became unavailable, according to Katherine R. Calvo, CEO of Pay-Less.
Guam Power Authority crews have begun 24/7 shift work clearing lines and restoring power.
“Some GPA crews will first work on the transmission lines bringing power from the power plants out to the substations. Other crews will begin to restore power to circuits and ultimately to customers,” a release said.
GPA will work on restoring critical and priority facilities such as [the] hospital, water wells and wastewater facilities, critical infrastructure and key areas e.g., communications, schools, public safety/health and ports of entry.
“GPA crews will then focus on areas throughout the island. In order to energize the most customers, we may have to isolate areas heavily damaged and then return to the respective area at a later time,” the release said.
A further release advised May 26 that the system load/customer demand had been restored to 3/8%; substation energization restored to 41.4% and GPA feeders/circuits energized/restored to 15.9%.
GPA said it needs to energize transmission lines to bring power to substations, which then allows GPA to feed power to distribution or circuit lines and power poles. Then those lines and poles can distribute power to individual locations.
No anticipated timeline was given.
The A.B. Won Pat International Airport, Guam said it expects to process outbound and inbound passengers by May 30. The airport is currently able to receive “limited aircraft humanitarian and essential cargo operations.”
The “airfield” fared well, but “terminal and passenger processing technical systems have been greatly affected by flooding on all floors of the terminal,” a release said.
Guam Memorial Hospital experienced major damage with walls coming down, exterior doors and typhoon shutters opening, and severe leaks and flooding. Leaks were from windows, the ceiling, elevators, and at one point water flowed down all major staircases
Coast360 Federal Credit Union’s Maite member center re-opened May 26. Some ATM’s are operational.
Bank of Hawaii will reopen its Harmon Branch on May 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Some BOH ATMs on Guam and Saipan are not functioning. For a list of ATMs that are, see https://www.boh.com/mawar.
First Hawaiian Bank opened the Maite branch the morning of May 26, but advised all branch ATMs were being stocked with cash.
Bank of Guam opened the Yigo branch for a few hours on May 26 for cash withdrawals only of up to $250. BOG advised the Journal that it is working to restore the operation of ATMs in Guam and Saipan.
BankPacific will open the Hagatna Branch May 27 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Some stores are only accepting cash.
Docomo Pacific advised its Saipan and Tinian stores re-opened as did its HQ/Tamuning store. Customers in all locations will not see disconnections; there are no data caps for mobile data customers; pre-paid customers will stay connected without load. Docomo said it is working to restore services.
Postponed:
- Micronesian Chef’s Association Maila’Ta Fan Chesa from May 23 to June 6 at the Hyatt Regency Guam.
- Guam Chapter of the American Red Cross Red Ball on May 28.
- Saipan Chamber of Commerce 14th Annual Golf Tournament, from May 27 to June 17 at Lao Lao Bay Golf & Resort.