Many in Guam Lack Power and Water a Week After Typhoon Mawar

More than a week after the most powerful typhoon in two decades, thousands of households across Guam remain without power, water, or cell phone service. The storm caused flooding, destroyed all the trees, and damaged all the basic needs. 

On May 24, Mawar hit a small island Guam, which had 150,000 inhabitants. It caused massive flooding and 140 mile-per-hour winds, which is approximately the same as a Category 4 hurricane. The storm knocked out most of the power on the island.  Fortunately,  there were no deaths reported. 

The Guam Power Authority reported in a few days, the electricity will be fixed for about 40 percent of the people in Guam. The Guam Waterworks Authority said half of the wells that supply water were operational whileThe officials said the cell phone towers will also be working in a few days. The island’s commercial sectors estimated $112 million in losses, mostly due to damages of buildings.

After Mawar, President Biden announced residents were able to request individual assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  The agency said hundreds of federal aid workers were on the island assisting with recovery, with the help of the military and U.S. Army Corps of Engine.

[Reference]

Moyer, J., & Fortin, J. (2023, June 2). Many in Guam lack power and water a week after Typhoon Mawar. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/02/us/guam-typhoon-mawar.html