By Pacific Island Times News Staff
President Joe R. Biden, Jr. on Tuesday night declared a state of emergency for Guam as the island braces for Super Typhoon Mawar.
As of 4 a.m., today, Super Typhoon Mawar was located 12.5 degrees north latitude and 145.6 degrees east longitude, about 85 miles southeast of Guam and 180 miles south of Saipan. It is moving west-northwest at 5 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph.
Weather officials said Super Typhoon Mawar remains on its track, imminently passing very near or directly over Guam.
"Mawar is expected to strengthen further to a Category 5 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, with gusts approaching 200 mph. This is expected to occur prior to making landfall," the Joint Information Center said.
Guam officials reiterated their call for residents to seek shelter.
At the White House, Biden ordered federal assistance to supplement Guam's response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from the super typhoon.
The president’s declaration authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures.
Benigno B. Ruiz, FEMA's federal coordinating officer, has been appointed to coordinate federal recovery operations in the affected areas.
FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency," the White House said. "Emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.
The Joint Information Center said the triple threat of torrential rains that may result in landslides and flash flooding, catastrophic wind, and life-threatening storm surge, are expected for Guam, with potentially catastrophic coastal flooding for southeastern and southern portions of Guam.
Typhoon conditions, with winds of 74 mph or greater, are likely to begin during the next few hours and increase through the morning. Intense eyewall winds are expected around between noon and 5:00 p.m., where maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, with gusts between 195 and 200 mph are likely.