Super typhoon Yutu strikes U.S. territories of Guam and CNMI
Super Typhoon Yutu with sustained winds of 165 MPH and gusts over 200 MPH has struck the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Guam was on the "weak" side of the typhoon. Internet connectivity is still working on parts of the islands.
Super Typhoon Yutu has passed over the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory, and moving to the northwest. According to the National Weather Service, the sustained winds in the eyewall was 180mph. The power is out on Tinian, and communications is spotty, mostly through satellite phones. Saipan has some power and communications. Some social media posting from mobile phones on Saipan. The CNMI EOC building is operating. FEMA has 110 people on the islands, still deployed from previous typhoons. Currently, Saipan airport is closed due to damage and debris. Restoring service at the airport is a priority, because that's how disaster relief supplies will arrive. Seas in the area still have 20-foot waves. The US Coast Guard will start the airlift of supplies from Guam to CNMI as soon as the Saipan runways are cleared.
Parts of Saipan airport was heavily dmanaged. Sea ports are closed. Utility power is out in Saipan, and hundreds of power poles are reported down. Backup generators are operating at critical facilities. The first disaster relief flights are expected at 10am Friday, after the runways at Saipan airport are cleared and certified for operation. IT&E, CNMI's local incumbant telephone provider, reports its central offices are operating and inter-island cables are are intact. Most of the backbone lines on CNMI are buried underground. DOCOMO Pacific, CNMI's local wireless provider, reports its network remained operational through the storm. I am seeing social media posts from people using cell phones on CNMI. Oracle's Internet Intelligence map shows 60% traceroute completion rate in the Northern Mariana Islands. https://map.internetintel.oracle.com/?root=national&country=MP
Unlike the major carriers on the US mainland, which generally provide few details and only generic happy, happy, joy, joy messages after hurricanes, IT&E CNMI has been tweeting as it re-aligning antennas at each cell site that service is restored in an area. IT&E updates Update 6:34pm: As of 6PM, all mobile services in Chalan Laulau and Chalan Kanoa have been restored. To report affected services in your area, please send us a direct message. Update 4:11pm: As of 4PM, mobile services in Camachili have been restored. To report affected services in your area, please send us a direct message Update 11:58am: As of 11:41 AM, mobile services in Tanapag have been restored. To report affected services in your area, please send us a direct message. Update 9:28am: Hafa Adai CNMI. The following sites have been restored and mobile services should be up and running in the areas below. Tapochao, Kensington, Lower Base and Capitol Hill. 5 additional sites will be restored within the hour and updates will be provided.
The official damage assessements for CNMI are coming in ... As of October 27, 10am ChST 1 fatality reported so far Utility power is out on all CNMI islands. Saipan has generator fuel. Rota and Tinian all feeders are down. On Tinian - power plant damaged. Hospitals on Saipan and Tinian are open and operating on emergency power. Rota Health Center open and operating on emergency power. Communications - significant damage to cell towers across islands, but telecommunications companies have restored some mobile services. Backbone facilities appear functional, hundreds of utility poles are down across the islands. Transportation - Major and secondary roads are accessible. Saipan and Tinian ports are closed. Saipan airport restricted to military flights only because air traffic control tower damaged. Replacement air traffic control equipment being brought in, and commerical outbound flights expected on Sunday. No inbound commercial flights. Some gas stations open on Saipan, all gas stations closed on Tinian. Banks and ATMs are re-opening today for limited hours. 17 shelters open. Some grocery stores and restaurants re-opening. Public water systems out of service. Water distribution stations are being set up.
1 confirmed fatality on Saipan. 100% utility power was out of service (Saipan, Tinian). Today, Roto has 99% power restored. Saipan and Tinian still ahve damaged feeders and power plants. Some utility power expected to be restored by October 31. Public water utility out of service. Water distribution points are operating. All seaports re-opened. Saipan and Tinian airports open for humanitarian relieft flights only. Limited commercial service for outbound passengers only. Major roads and most secondary roads are accessible. Saipan hospital fully operational. Tinian and Rota urgent care health centers operating on generator power. Air ambulance service between islands operating. Telephone exchange with inter-island connections is on generator power with 96 hour fuel capacity. Hundreds of telephone poles reported toppled across the islands. Most backbone fiber cables are underground. Saipain and Roto: cell towers operating on generator power. Limited cell service operating on Tinian (1 community).
From local reports, all radio/TV stations are off the air in CNMI.
The FCC has not activated DIRS in CNMI.
1 confirmed fatality (unchanged) The island of Rota (relatively small) has all services restored. Ssipsn (the largest) and Tinian still have service outages. Saipan: 6 of 9 power feeders offline; 29 generators installed 12 of 19 gas stations operational; 3 on line power Cellular service is 61% operational (37 of 60 towers operating) cell service remains intermittent Exchange office operating with 96 of backup power, inter-island trunks in service. Tinian: 4 of 4 power feeders offline; 3 generators installed 1 of 2 gas stations operational on generator power Cellular service is 33% operational (3 of 7 towers operating) Rota: All cellular sites operational; 4 on generator power Airports: Restricted to humanitarian relief only (Saipan and Tinian); Saipan mobile Air Traffic Control tower site is unsuitable, assessments for alternative site/power requirements ongoing
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Sean Donelan