Guam Still Suffering After Typhoon Mawar

These storms really can clobber even the best-prepared islands:

One week after typhoon Mawar ripped through the US territory of Guam, most parts of the island were still without power, water, and internet, with residents frustrated by the government’s slow response to the crisis.

By Wednesday, power had been restored to just 28% of customers, according to officials. The Guam Power Authority said it had deployed crews working on a 24-hour shift to clear lines and repair the typhoon-damaged feeders and circuits.

The island’s governor, Lou Leon Guerrero, said based on updates from utility agencies she expected 80% to 85% of power and water restoration to be completed within four to six weeks. 

“We cannot say 100% because there’s going to be places that we might not be able to reach and we don’t want to raise expectations,” she said.