Emergency management agencies across the region are urging residents and businesses to execute disaster preparedness plans as Tropical Storm 09W is forecast to rapidly intensify and potentially strike Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands as a Category four super typhoon.
According to a public advisory issued by the Office of Guam Homeland Security and Office of Civil Defense, numerical forecast models indicate the storm system will pass through the archipelago late Sunday into Monday. Although no tropical cyclone watches or warnings are currently in effect for Guam, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center noted that the surrounding environment is highly favorable for rapid development.
As of Thursday morning, the storm was centered approximately 1,100 miles east-southeast of Guam, tracking northwest at 15 mph with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph.
While the exact trajectory remains uncertain, the Office of Guam Homeland Security and Office of Civil Defense, in coordination with the National Weather Service said that all major islands, including Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan, fall within the potential path of a direct strike.
Residents and business operators across Guam and the NMI are being advised to finalize emergency kits with enough food and water to last seven to 10 days. Regional authorities have recommended clearing loose debris, securing outdoor property assets, and clearing drainage systems ahead of the anticipated tropical storm conditions. mbj
