By Trina A. San Agustin
Variety News Staff

TROPICAL Storm Kong-Rey, a Cambodian term for “legendary lady,” was forecast to intensify into a typhoon by early morning today, according to the National Weather Service in Tiyan.
Kong-Rey was expected to make its closest point of approach to Guam at 6 a.m. Tuesday, about 50 miles off of Guam’s coastal shores, NWS said.
Rota, the northernmost part of the CNMI, was forecast to be directly hit by Kong-Rey by Tuesday, the CNMI Emergency Management Office said.
As of 8 p.m. Sunday, a typhooon warning was in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan.
Kong-Rey was moving northwest towards the Marianas at 13 miles per hour, as of last night. This general motion was expected to continue during the next 24 hours.
NWS said as of 8 p.m., Kong-Rey was packing maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. Tropical storm force winds of 39 mph or more extend out to 85 miles from the center.
At 7 p.m. yesterday, Kong-Rey’s center was located near latitude 10.6 degrees north and longitude 151.6 degrees east.
This was about 500 miles east-southeast of Guam/Rota and, 505 miles southeast of Tinian/Saipan.
NWS forecaster Genevieve Miller advised residents to take all the necessary precautions such as securing loose outdoor items, shutterring windows, and stocking up on non-perishable items and batteries. Residents are also advised to stay on top of media reports as the track and the speed of Kong-Rey may change.
Condition of readiness
At 2 p.m. Sunday, Gov. Felix P. Camacho placed Guam under a Condition of Readiness 3. This means that typhoon conditions are expected on Guam within the next 48 hours.
In the CNMI, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial declared Tropical Storm Condition of Readiness 3 for Rota, and a typhoon watch for Tinian and Saipan as of 5 p.m. yesterday.
As of press time, it was not known if and when Camacho would place Guam in Condition of Readiness 2, which means that typhoon conditions are expected within 24 hours.
According to the governor’s spokesperson Shawn Gumataotao at 5 p.m. yesterday, officials from the Guam Power Authority and the Guam Waterworks Authority were making the necessary preparations for the storm.
There will be no classes this entire week for Guam Public School System students as it is spring break. This leaves the campuses ready, if needed, for use as temporary shelters. Residents in need of shelter are advised to monitor local media outlets for announcements of the opening of shelters.
As for expectant mothers, an announcement had yet to be made as of press time to report to the Guam Memorial Hospital. Mothers-to-be are advised to monitor media outlets for this announcement.
The Guam Office of Homeland Security and Civil Defense were expected to hold a heavy weather briefing at 10 a.m. today. More details of GovGuam preparations and advisories will be known after this briefing.
In the meantime, Gumataotao said all Gov Guam agencies were making preparations for the NWS’ forecasted closest point of approach for Kong-Rey
The last time Guam was hit by a storm was on Aug. 21, 2004 when Supertyphoon Chaba crossed the channel between Rota and Tinian. This brought Guam winds of 61 mph. However, residents of Rota felt the maximum sustained winds of 136 miles per hour.
Military preparations
Meanwhile, the U.S. Naval Forces Marianas, or COMNAVMAR, and Andersen Air Force Base declared Condition of Readiness 3 at 3 p.m. Sunday, according to a release from COMNAVMAR.
All DoDEA schools will be closed today and Tuesday, April 3. Also, all Navy Child Development Centers will be closed on those same days.
The Orote Commissary on Naval Station closed at 8 p.m. yesterday and will be open to authorized patrons from 7 a.m. to 12 noon today.