HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) Guam is “very blessed and fortunate” that there was no major damage left behind by Typhoon Bolaven, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said through a video message released shortly after she and Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio had conducted a “windshield tour” of the island.
“Houses are up. Commercial buildings are intact. All (RISEUP) roofs that have been done are standing strong, (Federal Emergency Management Agency) tents are up. Every part of our island is pretty much safe. I just want to thank the people of Guam for their adherence to our warnings and to follow our request to prepare and plan for the storm,” Leon Guerrero stated just a few minutes before the island was placed under Condition of Readiness 4.
Typhoon Bolaven passed between Rota and Tinian overnight. It approached closest to Rota, about 20 miles north of the island at 5 p.m. Tuesday. The closest point of approach for Guam was about 50 miles away at around 4 p.m.
While nowhere near as destructive as Typhoon Mawar which ravaged Guam in late May, Bolaven did bring with it a significant amount of rain.
Dededo Mayor Melissa Savares said Wednesday morning that water pooled in some areas of the village, but there was no major flooding or damage to report.
“There was a lot of rain, … even with sandbags, water still came through. Especially the roadways, even if there is drainages, … It took time for the water to recede. And in certain areas we had some where the water was overwhelming. But after a while, the water drained into the proper areas,” Savares said.
“Yes, everyone had wet areas, but they cleaned it up, and then they’re back in their homes,” Savares said.
When the mayor spoke to The Guam Daily Post Wednesday morning, she was in the process of assessing shelters as people were checking out to make sure they had a safe place to go back to. Savares said people’s homes were generally in good condition.
Water issues
Down south, at Inalåhan, minimum flooding and damage were reported.
However, on Wednesday morning, the Guam Waterworks Authority advised southern residents from Santa Rita to Hågat to store and conserve water as they may experience a temporary outage or low water pressure because the Ugum Water Treatment Plant needed to be secured”This temporary outage is a precautionary measure due to massive flooding from stormwater, estimated to be the worst in four years,” a post on the utility’s Facebook page stated.
Rainfall from Bolaven caused the treatment plant to reach severe turbidity levels, and it needed to be secured until levels normalized, GWA General Manager Miguel Bordallo stated in the post. Water tanks were deployed at the Hågat mayor’s office and across the Santa Rita church to provide residents with potable water, the post added.
TATUHA
For the central area of Tamuning, Tumon and Harmon, Mayor Louise Rivera said that her office was in the process of picking up signs and debris as of late Wednesday morning.
She also said homeless individuals staying at a typhoon shelter had asked for transportation. Arrangements were made with Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense. According Jenna Blas, spokesperson for GHS/OCD, homeless individuals were transported by buses belonging to the Department of Public Works, except for one individual who had been picked up from the Astumbo Elementary School shelter.
Six public schools served as shelters for the public in light of the storm. As of 12 p.m., the shelters were cleared and closed, according to Guam Department of Education spokesperson Michelle Franquez.
Power outages reported
The Guam Power Authority reported a few outages as Bolaven was passing through the Marianas Tuesday. That included separate power outages in Yona Tuesday afternoon. Heavy bamboo vegetation at a substation was identified as the cause. GPA crews made repairs and power was restored within half an hour to residents in Yona, as well as to nearby residents in Pago Bay.
Isolated, non-entire feeder outages also occurred in Mangilao, Tiyan and Maina on Tuesday. GPA was able to restore power to these places during the typhoon.
GPA had two sets of crews working 12-hour shifts through the typhoon, to address any power related issues through 7 a.m. Wednesday morning or longer.
Updated reports on power outages that had occurred and the overall status of the power grid were pending as of press time.
Surf and small craft advisories
The National Weather Service Guam, meanwhile, has issued a high surf advisory that will remain in effect for Guam until 6 p.m. Thursday.
“Large breaking waves of 10 to 12 feet on west-facing reefs and 9 to 11 feet on south-facing reefs are expected. Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion are expected. Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions,” a release from GHS/OCD stated.
A small craft advisory for the coastal waters of Guam, Rota and Tinian is also in effect until 6 p.m. Thursday.
“Southwest winds of 20 to 25 knots, with gusts up to 35 knots, and seas of 10 to 14 feet are expected. Conditions will be hazardous to small craft. Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions,” the GHS/OCD release stated.
Disaster declaration
While Bolaven was approaching the Marianas, President Joe Biden had approved the governor’s request for a presidential disaster declaration in response to the storm. The declaration authorized FEMA to coordinate disaster relief efforts.
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense and the Department of Health and Human Services stand ready to provide support as needed,” the release stated.
Maintenance employee Francisco Walter, left, assists maintenance supervisor Kin Hufalar as he removes a typhoon shutter track at SureStay Guam Airport South in Barrigada after the passing of Typhoon Bolaven on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. Frank San Nicolas/The Guam Daily Post
