Hurricane in Guam, March 1 to 4, 2002

SUPERTYPHOON MITAGOn the morning of the 25th Scatterometer data had shown a weak circulation south of Pohnpei near 4N 158E. Near midnight on the morning of February 27 the circulation moved west to a location near 285 miles east-southeast of Chuuk. At 6am on the 27th the circulation had strengthened to become TropicalDepression 02W. By the evening of the 27th Tropical Depression 02W had become a Tropical Storm. The tropical storm moved slowly westward over the next few days intensifying only slightly. By the night of the 28th the storm was located 20 miles south-southeast of Weno Chuuk. Wind gust of 47 mph were recorded at the Chuuk WSO during the afternoon of the 28th. By midnight on March 1 Tropical Storm Mitag inched closer to Weno Chuuk passing 35 miles southwest. WSO Chuuk had 6.94 inches of rain during the 24 hour period ending 2200L on the 28th.Damage on ChuukNo deaths or injuries were reported. Flooding and landslides. Heavy flooding resulting mostly from overflowing man-hole and trapped run-off water flooded many homes on Weno in the Seletiw area. The flooded home received damage to household goods, appliances and personal property. A few minor landslide also occurred on two of the islands in the lagoon, Fason in Tol Municipality and Eot Municipality. The Tropical Storm increased its forward speed on the 1st, going from 10 mph in the early morning to 16 mph by noon time. The storm passed over or very close to Puluwat during the late morning hours of the 1st. Moving further west Tropical Storm Mitag increased strength becoming a typhoon by that evening. During that night Mitag passed 50 miles south of Satawal.Around noon on the 2nd, Typhoon Mitag passed less than 30 miles south of Woleai. Reports from Woleai said power was knocked out, all breadfruit trees and most of the coconut trees and also the thatched roof houses were blown down. Residents of Woleai sought shelter in the Elementary and High School facilities. Winds were estimated to have gusted as high as 105 mph. During the early morning hours of the 3rd the typhoon passed over the atoll of of Sorol. Sorol was uninhabited at the time. Just before noon that day Mitag passed 50 miles south of Yap. Just after noon the typhoon passed 60 miles northwest of Ngulu. Maximum gust WSO YAP from SE at 75 mph at 1310 on the 3rd NGULU AMOS from SW at 63 mph at 1400 on the 3rd ULITHI AMOS from E-NE at 49 mph at 0300 on the 3rd 24 Hr rainfall WSO YAP received 3.70 inches ending at 1600L on the 3rd with a storm total was 3.89 inches NGULU AMOS received 10.05 inches ending at 1500L on the 3rd ULITHI AMOS received 1.00 inch ending at 0600L on the 3rd Damage on Yap No injuries or deaths were reported. Island power failed at 1300L on the 3rd due to some lines being ripped off the poles by high winds. Island power was restored at 1600L on the 5th.Northern clockwise through southern shores of the main Island of Yap was heavily destroyed, mainly due to the thunderous storm surge pounding the shoreline. Private dwellings along the shore was washed away. Even some concrete buildings close to the shoreline was destroyed by the surf. Destiny Hotel in Gilman was completely demolished. In some areas, the strong tidal surge went inland as far as 600 feet. Part of the roof at the Yap International Airport terminal was ripped off. The boarding area, check-in area, waiting area, and arrival area flooded with rain water and debris. Most of the roads and causeways in Colonia were under 4 to 5 feet of water. The whole length of theColonia Park Seawall was damaged by high tide and strong currents from the storm. Numerous trees were damaged or knocked down across Yap. The fallen trees blocked many roads. On the southern most tip of Yap much damage was done to food crops and residential areas. The southeastern side of the tip had about 95 % damage from the shoreline up to 400 meters inland. The western side of the southern tip only had 30 % overall damage. The Church of St. Francis Assisi in Guroor near the southern tip of Yap lost part of its stone platform due to the strong currents from the storm surge. In Magachgil to the south of Guroor, many coconut trees were either uprooted or broken in half. Many Taro crops had salt water intrusion caused by the sea inundating them. Those Taro patches that were not destroyed by the inundation had plants die later on due to salt water intrusion into the roots or even from salt spray. A sample of crop damage on YapLand Taro 50 to 90% damageTaro 10 to 50% damagePapaya 40 to 50% damageBanana 70 to 90% damageSweet Potatoes 0 to 80% damagePumpkin 0 to 70% damageBreadfruit 60 to 80% damageCoconut 40 to 50% damageMangoes 5% damageBetel Nut 60% damagePepper leaves 80% damageDuring the evening of the 3rd Typhoon Mitag passed about 200 miles north of Koror in Palau. Some windgust were observed on the northern islands of Kay Angle. No damage was reported. Indirect effects of the Typhoon. The damage to the food crops on some of the small islands in Yap and Chuuk States caused hardships on the people there. With Taro crops filled with salt water and banana and breadfruit trees destroyed or damaged many people went hungry on the small islands. A death on Nomwim Atoll in Chuuk State has been attributed to health problems caused in the wake of Typhoon Mitag. Some of the islands only had food for one to two weeks.A man in Palau died as an indirect result of the storm. 36 year old Akino Isamu was helping his friend to cut down a coconut tree in Peleliu. They thought it posed a danger to a house if strong winds from the typhoon reached Palau. When the tree was cut and started to fall, Akino tried to avoid it but guessedwrongly. The tree fell directly on him, pinning him to the ground.