It looks like Chaba stayed far enough North to avoid causing severe damage to Guam. Flooding and destruction of bridges seems to be the biggest problem with general power and water problems normally expected after such storms.
Here are good summary articles from Pacific Daily News
http://www.guampdn.com
Guam remains in Condition 1
Supertyphoon Chaba moving away from islands
Pacific Daily News,
news@guampdn.com
Supertyphoon Chaba is moving away from the Marianas.
Guam remains in Condition of Readiness 1. There are high winds being reported throughout the island, especially in northern villages. Residents are advised to stay indoors, stay off the roadways and stay out of the waters.
It is too soon to determine when the all clear will be given, said Shawn Gumataotao, lead public information officer for the Joint Information Center
At first light today, officials from the Office of Civil Defense and Homeland Security began damage assessments and will continue throughout the day.
Guam Power Authority, Guam Waterworks Authority and Department of Public Works crews have been activated to begin repairs and to clear roadways.
Pocket areas throughout the island are without power, but it is not an islandwide power outage, Gumataotao said. Gumataotao said that all GPA crews have been called in to repair down power lines.
Areas throughout the island are experiencing low to no water pressure. Gumataotao said that water tankers will soon be deployed but where they will be set up has yet to be determined.
He said the only reported flooding so far has been at the Barcinas area in Merizo. There have been no reported mudslides as of early this morning.
Be advised there is a large tree blocking Route 4 in Merizo by Hemlani Apartments and on Route 2A next to the Agat Mobil Station.
There are downed power lines located on Route 10 Mangilao by Santa Teresita Church. Guam Police Department Officers are at the scene directing traffic.
Crews from the Department of Public Works are responding to clear box culverts at Barcinas area in Merizo where flooding has occured.
There is a report of a downed tree blocking Route 26 Carnation Road and Daisy Lane in Dededo.
If you must travel, please take extreme caution and be aware of debris and down power lines and other storm related hazards. If you encounter hazards, contact the emergency operations center at 475-9600.
Chaba made its closest approach to Guam just before 11 p.m. Sunday, packing powerful winds that grounded flights, flooded roads and homes, closed stores and more than 2,000 residents scurrying to seek refuge in typhoon shelters.
As of 7 this morning, the center of Supertyphoon Chaba was located 15.2 degrees north and 144 degrees east, or 130 miles north-northeast of Guam or 110 miles northwest of Rota. Maximum sustained winds are 180 mph with gusts up to 220 mph.
Supertyphoon Chaba is moving west at 17 mph.
Rota, Tinian and Saipan felt the brunt of Chaba damaging winds and torrential rain. Rota had peak winds of 132 mph as of 11 p.m.
Guam experienced a peak wind strength of 61 mph as of 10 p.m. Sunday.
Gov. Felix Camacho declared Guam in a state of emergency Sunday and authorized spending of up to $250,000 for emergency civil defense, public safety and health-care costs.
The island began to flood Sunday afternoon and by the evening were reports of flooding throughout the island, according to the Office of Civil Defense.
Agajan Bridge on Route 4 in Inarajan was impassable, under four feet of water, officials said. Marine Corps Drive near Polaris Point also was flooded, causing treacherous driving conditions.
Meanwhile, 2,005 people sought refuge in the island’s 10 schools-turned-typhoon shelters.
Department of Education spokesman Gerry Cruz said all of the island’s public schools will be closed at least until Tuesday to allow for damage assessments, and some may be forced to stay closed longer, depending on the amount of damage sustained and how quickly the shelters close, he said.
The University of Guam announced there will be no classes today.
All government of Guam agencies are closed until Condition of Readiness 4 has been restored, Gumataotao said.
Civil Defense’s Emergency Operation Center has been working from the Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport because the air conditioners at their offices in Government House in Agana Heights were not working.
Meanwhile, all flights in and out of the airport were grounded yesterday morning and are expected to return to normal this afternoon.
By around 2 p.m. Sunday, Guam Waterworks Authority had shut down the Ugum Water Treatment Plant because of worries that the pumps would clog, said John Pangelinan, GWA response activity coordinator. He said the water reservoir would feed the southern villages dependent on Ugum for a little while, but he urged residents to conserve water.
Pangelinan also said GWA had switched the power source at its wells to generators to reduce the risk of power fluctuations blowing out pumps and engines.
As of last night, Guam Memorial Hospital reported 90 expectant mothers at the hospital.
GMH and the Naval Hospital have announced that all routine appointments and elective surgeries have been canceled today.
The Navy this morning announced that it also remains at Condition of Readiness 1. All military personnel are to remain at their present location. All naval base installation gates remain closed. Naval Hospital Guam will remain opne for emergency cases.
The Navy Exchange, Commissary, all gas stations and mini-marts are closed. All DoDea schools are closed today.
Chaba misses Guam
By Katie Worth
Pacific Daily News;
kworth@guampdn.com
Photos by Masako Watanabe/Pacific Daily News/mwatanabe@guampdn.com
Bill Manley, left, of Yona secures his boat near the HagÂtÒa boat basin with the help of his cousin, Rick Mendiola, yesterday afternoon several hours before Typhoon Chaba was expected to make its closest approach to Guam late last night.
Maria Ulloa Elementary School aide Flo Duenas, 50, left, begins her second eight-hour shift yesterday by counting people who went to the school for shelter, including Tetfina Kenit, 23, right, and her daughter Marbelta Umwech, 4, center.
Wet roads: Members of the Guam Fire Department and Guam Police Department officers secure the scene of an accident yesterday on Route 8 in Barrigada. A Chevrolet sport utility vehicle collided with a Mitsubishi Montero, causing the Montero to land on its side. One injured person was treated at Guam Memorial Hospital.
Typhoon Chaba made its closest approach to Guam just before 11 last night, packing powerful winds that grounded flights, flooded roads and homes, closed stores and sent close to 2,000 residents scurrying to seek refuge in typhoon shelters.
As of 11 p.m., the typhoon's center was 85 miles northeast of Guam and 30 miles northeast of Rota, said National Weather Service meteorologist-in-charge Genny Miller. Rota had peak winds of 132 mph as of 11 p.m.
Guam experienced a peak wind strength of 61 mph as of 10 p.m., Miller said.
"Rota is getting really pounded right now," Miller said shortly after 11 last night. She said Chaba will have left the Marianas by this morning.
Gov. Felix Camacho declared Guam in a state of emergency yesterday and authorized spending of up to $250,000 for emergency civil defense, public safety and health-care costs.
The island began to flood yesterday afternoon and by last night there were reports of flooding throughout the island, according to the Office of Civil Defense.
Agajan Bridge on Route 4 in Inarajan was impassable, under four feet of water, officials said. Marine Corps Drive near Polaris Point also was flooded, causing treacherous driving conditions.
Meanwhile, some 1,860 people sought refuge in the island's 10 schools-turned-typhoon shelters. By 8 last night, four of the northern shelters were filled to capacity and new arrivals were being bused to other shelters.
Department of Education spokesman Gerry Cruz said all of the island's public schools will be closed at least until Tuesday to allow for damage assessments, and some may be forced to stay closed longer, depending on the amount of damage sustained and how quickly the shelters close, he said.
The University of Guam announced there will be no classes today.
All government of Guam agencies are closed until Condition of Readiness 4 has been restored, according to Shawn Gumataotao, governor's spokesman and the lead public information officer for Civil Defense's Joint Information Center.
Yesterday, Civil Defense's Emergency Operation Center was working from the Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport because the air conditioners at their offices in Government House in Agana Heights were not working.
Meanwhile, all flights in and out of the airport were grounded yesterday morning and are expected to return to normal today.
By around 2 p.m. yesterday, Guam Waterworks Authority had shut down the Ugum Water Treatment Plant because of worries that the pumps would clog, said John Pangelinan, GWA response activity coordinator. He said the water reservoir would feed the southern villages dependent on Ugum for a little while, but he urged residents to conserve water.
Pangelinan also said GWA had switched the power source at its wells to generators to reduce the risk of power fluctuations blowing out pumps and engines.
Meanwhile, Guam Power Authority reported power outages in the following areas: Wusstig Road, War Dog Cemetery, Micronesia Mall, Summer Palace, Ypao Road, Harmon Industrial Park and Route 4 in the Ipan, Talofofo, area.
Yesterday morning, both Guam Memorial Hospital and the Naval Hospital put out announcements asking all expectant mothers to report to the hospital as soon as possible, as well as very ill patients. As of last night, Guam Memorial Hospital reported 90 expectant mothers at the hospital.
Both hospitals have announced that all routine appointments and elective surgeries have been canceled today.
For those isolated in the south because of flooding, the Department of Public Health and Social Services opened its Southern Regional Community Health Center for any emergencies.
As the storm drew near, residents continued to prepare for the storm.
At Kmart yesterday, even as shopping carts rolled around the parking lot in the wind and workers screwed typhoon shutters around the windows, some residents were purchasing last-minute emergency supplies.
Larron Gandaoli, 24, his wife and daughter were among those still preparing. He said his home was fairly secure.
"We spent some time preparing last night after dinner. ... I just always prepare for the worst," he said. "I'm better prepared than last time, for Tingting. With that one there wasn't even a forewarning. ... Our canopy got pretty bent out of shape."
Elsewhere around the island, people continued to bring their plants and animals inside, put up plywood or shutters over their windows, buy canned food and water and prepare to hunker down for a long night.
One family was found taking showers at Fish Eye Marine Park because they haven't had water in their Piti home since Thursday because of problems with the Navy's water systems. Daniel Bass, 19, said they wanted to take showers before the storm because they knew water was likely to become even more scarce after the storm.
He said he and his family have prepared fairly well for Chaba, but it wasn't really his own well-being he was concerned about.
"I'm not that worried about Guam, I'm more worried because my family is in Rota right now and I hear that it's heading toward them," he said. "My sister, mom, and grandparents are in Rota and my brother's in Tinian. ... It looks like it's going to hit those places up there worse."
Reporter Theresa Merto contributed to this report.
Kevin Vang
APCEDI Coordinator
http://www.afap.org/apcedi
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