Each typhpoon puts island resilience to test ; Guam returns to normal

 By Pacific Island Times News Staff

Guamanians woke up Monday morning to the same sound of the howling windstorm that lulled—or terrified— them into sleep the night before.

“Am I nervous? Of course. It would be unrealistic not to feel some nerves because different scenarios can always come to mind,” said Tes Reyes-Burrier of Tamuning.

 “That's exactly why we prepare, plan ahead and stay ready to respond. Being prepared gives us the confidence to handle unexpected situations calmly and effectively,” she added.

For residents of an island that sits in typhoon alley, preparing for a typhoon is almost routine.

But each weather event is like a mystery box—as if its nature is designed to challenge precision.

Each typhoon proves the Guamanians' resilience.

“After nearly a week of preparedness, planning and actions to take shelter from the developing super typhoon, and a morning of damage and

destruction, Super Typhoon Bavi is now exiting the region to the west,” the

National Weather Service Guam said in its final advisory for Bavi.

At 7 p.m., Bavi was located 150 miles northwest of Guam and 160 miles west of Saipan near 15.1N and 143.3E. It was moving west-northwest (300 degrees) at 13 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph.

“I secured all the windows so water won't come in and the wind won't break it. Put all outside stuff in the safe area. Tied everything and put hallow blocks on top,” said Lolit Enriquez of Sinajana.

“Since we always have typhoons, I think all of us got used to this practice. Our mayor, Robert Hoffman, always sends us reminders and updates on the neighborhood chat group," she said as she prays for prompt return of her power and water services.

At 10 a.m., Guam transitioned to COR 4 while the Joint Region Marianas and its installations entered an active recovery phase.

The National Weather Service, Weather Forecast Office Guam, has canceled the typhoon warning for Guam.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero led a govenrment team during an initial windshield assessment to evaluate damage, identify hazards and begin restoration efforts, the Joint Information Center said.

"Joint Task Force - Micronesia, as the Department of War’s supported command for Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) in the region, is actively coordinating with federal, territorial, and local partners to ensure a rapid and effective response if requested" the information center said.

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