Mark Rabago
RNZ Pacific CNMI correspondent
US President Donald
Trump has approved emergency declarations for Guam and the
Northern Mariana Islands after Super Typhoon Champi narrowly
missed Guam, bringing destructive winds and dangerous seas
to the Marianas.
Guam’s Governor Lou Leon Guerrero
confirmed the presidential declaration on Sunday,
authorising the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
to coordinate emergency assistance.
Champi passed
about 10 miles south of Guam early Sunday, prompting
authorities to warn residents of damaging winds and
life-threatening conditions.
“We are grateful for the
president’s quick response,” Leon Guerrero
said.
Lieutenant Governor Joshua Tenorio assured
residents that all available resources would be deployed for
response and recovery.
Meanwhile, Trump approved a
separate emergency declaration for the Northern Marianas on
Saturday, a day after Governor David Apatang requested
federal assistance.
The declaration covers Saipan,
Tinian, and Rota, allowing FEMA to mobilise resources and
provide direct federal assistance for emergency protective
measures, with the federal government covering 75 percent of
eligible costs.
Apatang said the assistance came at a
critical time following successive storms that have battered
the territory this year.
“This has been an incredibly
difficult year for our islands. Our people have endured
storm after storm, and each time they have shown remarkable
strength and resilience,” he said.
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
As of 4pm Sunday,
Champi was 170 miles west of Guam, packing maximum sustained
winds of 150m/ph and moving west at 16 miles per
hour.
Forecasters said Champi could strengthen into a
category 5 super typhoon early Monday, with winds reaching
160 miles per hour.
The National Weather Service
cancelled typhoon warnings for Guam and Rota at 5pm Sunday,
while tropical storm warnings and typhoon watches for Saipan
and Tinian were lifted earlier in the
afternoon.
However, strong winds and dangerous seas
remain a concern across the Marianas, with gusts of up to
45m/ph miles possible overnight.
Coastal flood and
high surf warnings remain in effect for Guam and Rota, while
a flood watch has been extended through early Monday because
of possible heavy rainfall.
Small craft advisories
also cover all four main Mariana Islands.
Champi is
forecast to continue west-northwest through the Philippine
Sea, potentially approaching the far northern Philippines or
Taiwan later this week.
FEMA has appointed Andrew
Grant as federal coordinating officer for the Northern
Marianas, with additional assistance possible following
further damage
assessments.
New Zealand’s public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.
Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.
