HAGATNA, Guam (9 Apr 2004) -- Early reports out of Yap indicate that Typhoon Sudal has devastated much of the island. Calls to Yap didn't go through yesterday, as the storm may have damaged the island's communications infrastructure. Yap officials, however, were able to radio a report to a University of Guam satellite radio station, run by research associate Bruce Best, talking about the island's devastation and emergency needs. Best said Federal Emergency Management Agency officials arrived on Guam yesterday morning and are preparing to mobilize C-130s to deliver relief teams and equipment once Yap is safe to land on. "We really don't have detailed reports because people are just sticking their heads out of concrete huts now. Everything else that isn't concrete is gone," he said. "They have no communications, no power, no infrastructure. Their public utilities building has been destroyed, whole villages have been wasted on the water front, the hospital has some damage, the airport is a mess. ... They say this is the worst typhoon they've ever seen." Dan Mundell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said based on satellite photos, it appears Yap began experiencing typhoon intensity winds at 7 a.m. yesterday. At the height of the storm, the island was being bashed by sustained winds of up to 125 mph with gusts of up to 150 mph over nearby waters. Mundell estimates that by the time the typhoon pulled away from Yap, the island would have experienced at least six to nine hours of typhoon-intensity winds. "It's a similar situation to what we experienced with Paka and the other one, Pongsona," Mundell said. "Just like with us, the eye didn't hit them directly, but they were caught in that eye wall for several hours, so residents of Guam can sort of imagine what it's been like for people on Yap." Supertyphoons Paka and Pongsona, which struck Guam in December 1997 and December 2002, respectively, were among the strongest recorded typhoons to hit the island and left massive amounts of damage. Typhoon Sudal is expected to head northwest into the Philippine Sea, where Mundell said it's not likely to affect any other populated area soon, Mundell said. Owen Sigirag spent much of yesterday worrying about his family. The Yap native and chairman of today's Yap Day festivities at Ypao Beach in Tumon hasn't been able to get word of his family's condition since Typhoon Sudal roared through the island. "I've been trying to call Yap, but all the phones are out, so I'm very worried because most of my family lives on the coastline," the 40-year-old said. Officials from the island state on Thursday said they evacuated people from coastal areas. No casualties Best said he has been able to communicate with the island only through the few radios they have left. While residents have not been able to go out because winds were still in excess of 50 mph at 6 last night, early reports indicate that so far there are no casualties or major injuries. Best said the casualty report could change, however, as people begin to get around the island. He said the roads are now flooded and filled with debris. | | Aside from FEMA, several local organizations have began preparing for relief efforts in Yap. Ayuda Foundation's board of directors member Walden Weilbacher said the nonprofit organization plans to have relief packages delivered to Continental Airlines by noon today so that the airline can fly them out to Yap. Weilbacher, who also is the secretariat of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures, said the airline has agreed to donate 3,000 pounds of cargo to the island when a flight leaves for Yap tonight. Best said that probably wouldn't be possible unless the runway can be cleared. The Guam Medical Society has two primary-care physicians and two nurses on standby, ready to fly to Yap as soon as the society receives the request from the FSM government, said GMS president-elect Dr. Vince Akimoto. Akimoto said the society is coordinating its efforts through the local FSM consulate office and other doctors are working to clear their schedules so they can eventually relieve the first team. The medical society is working to get a surgical team together to send to Yap with Joseph Edhlund. Edhlund, owner of Sky Blue Air, planned to fly to Yap this morning with medical supplies and doctors, but he is awaiting FAA approval to make the flight. Edhlund's company does not yet have airline certification. Guam Memorial Hospital Associate Administrator William Kando said the hospital yesterday dropped off a medical package containing several kinds of antibiotics, bandages, gauze, hydrogen peroxide, and other pharmaceuticals to be delivered to Yap. The hospital also is on standby to provide further assistance should it be contacted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Kando said. New focus Sigirag said that while Yapese residents were scheduled to have a big day of fun and relaxation today, the focus of Yap Day, a day to highlight Yap culture, will now shift toward helping the island. The official Yap Day is March 1, but Yap residents on Guam are celebrating the cultural day today. Sigirag is urging all natives of Yap on Guam to attend today's event so they can discuss what is going on in Yap and find out what they can do to help. While the events and festivities scheduled for the day will continue, the Yap community on Guam also will be accepting donations of money, clothing, canned goods and other items to send to Yap, he said. "We don't really know what they need, but we are going to start getting things together," he said. "We're all very concerned about this because unlike on Guam where there are concrete houses, there is still a lot of tin-roof houses over there, so it's very dangerous when something like this happens." SOURCE - Pacific Daily News |
