By The Epoch Times | Created at 2026-10-19 11:47:00 | Updated at 2026-10-19 12:52:19
1 hour ago
Waves hit the coastline as children play at a beach ahead of the arrival of the forecasted Super Typhoon Bavi in Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, on July 4, 2026. Yuichi Yamazaki / AFP via Getty Images
President Donald Trump approved emergency declarations for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands on Saturday as Typhoon Champi approached, allowing federal assistance to bolster local response efforts.
The Guam Homeland Security Office of Civil Defense said Typhoon Champi narrowly missed Guam by about 10 miles but still affected southern Guam and other islands.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said the emergency declarations would allow the agency to coordinate federal relief efforts and deploy equipment and resources.
The agency said in Oct. 17 statements that the declarations provide emergency protective measures in Guam and on the Northern Mariana Islands of Rota, Saipan and Tinian, with the federal government covering 75 percent of eligible costs.
The National Weather Service said it lifted all typhoon warnings on Sunday after Typhoon Champi moved away from the Mariana Islands into open waters.
Gov. David M. Apatang announced on Oct. 18 that authorities have not declared the islands fully safe.
“This is NOT an ‘All Clear,’” the governor said on Facebook. “Expect gusty winds and heavy showers from feeder bands. Dangerous surf and coastal inundation along west-facing shores remain a significant threat.”
Guam Homeland Security said in an update that it issued a flood advisory through 12.15 p.m. local time on Oct. 19 for all of Guam as rainfall from Typhoon Champi extended eastward.
It said high surf and small craft advisories remained in effect, urging people and boat operators to avoid entering the water until conditions improved.
Guam government agencies have resumed operations, though some services remain unavailable because storm damage and outages are affecting power, water, and internet, according to the update.
Guam International Airport is fully operational with no impact to operations.
“Our facility is ready for normal operations, with our airline confirming arrivals and departures scheduled for the afternoon bank will operate,” the airport’s executive manager, John Quinata, said in a statement. “We are fortunate that Typhoon Champi did not affect our ability to open for business as usual.”
Typhoon Champi has since moved from the western Pacific into the Philippine Sea and become a Category 5 super typhoon, according to the National Weather Service.
It had maximum sustained winds of 160 mph by late Monday Asia time, and was not near land.
The islands were still dealing with the aftermath of Super Typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi, which struck earlier in April and July, respectively.
A building under construction lies collapsed after strong winds and heavy rain from Super Typhoon Bavi in Guam on July 7, 2026. Yuichi Yanazaki/AFP via Getty Images
The latest storm had left multiple communities on the islands without electricity and water, while some water systems had been out of service since Typhoon Sinlaku made landfall in April, the American Red Cross said in an Oct. 18 statement.
The nonprofit organization said it would close all shelters on Tinian and keep one shelter on Saipan and one on Rota after Typhoon Champi passed. The Red Cross said it would also work with local officials to determine shelter needs in Guam.
It added that workers with the organization’s Service to the Armed Forces will staff two emergency family assistance centers Tuesday: one at Andersen Air Force Base and one at Naval Base Guam.
