Issue 22: Weathering Together 🌦️
Call for Submissions: Typhoon Diaries
Bueñas Friends,
We’ve just submitted Typhoon Mawar into the Guinness Book of Records as the slowest storm in history.
Humor aside. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone as we continue the recovery process together. The impact Mawar has had on the island is devastating to see, but this is when we must continue to lean on one another. If there's one thing we learned from previous typhoons, it’s that we only come out of it stronger…
We are resilient.
And we will get through this.
Because of limited internet, along with no power and no water… we won’t have a newsletter this week 😢. In the meantime, we’ve gathered some resources below. Feel free to browse through our archive of past issues:
Issue 2: How we budget and make the most of our Maolek Rewards at Payless.
Issue 3: Take a look at what Dr. Jaz eats at a fiesta (because we’re sure you’re all making the most of all that frozen meats and veggies).
Issue 5 and Issue 19: For our stay-at-home guides. Also, why not compile a shoebox of memories of any artwork or journal entries created by your kids during the storm?
Issue 17: Go back in time with our nostalgic 90s guide as a throwback to the good times when stronger storms rolled through. Oh, a time when we didn’t rely on tech and tapped into the simple joys of playing cards under candlelight.
Our thoughts, prayers, and love go out to you all during this time. We wish you all and your families well and pray for a speedy recovery for the entire island.
Much love ❤️
Your WW Gals
🚨 Resources
FEMA will provide services and resources to assist in a few days. You can also contact your mayor for locations for assistance. According to FEMA’s most recent press release issued on May 25, 2023.
More than 60 generators are en route to the Pacific, and more than 100 generators are already in Guam for use.
As many as 200 trained disaster workers and emergency supplies are being deployed to the Pacific.
For those seeking the status of family members or friends on the island but are having trouble connecting, the communications and electrical systems are being repaired and stabilized at this time.
For real-time updates, visit:Guam Homeland Security: https://ghs.guam.gov
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Office of the Governor:
The American Red Cross of Guam hotline: 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
24/7 counseling: Disaster Distress Helpline.
More information: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/3594
🚨 Help for individuals and households
The following information is from FEMA’s website:
Individuals and Households Program (IHP) provides financial and direct services to eligible individuals and households affected by a disaster who have uninsured or under-insured necessary expenses and serious needs. IHP assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster. The assistance is intended to meet your basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts.*GHS/OCD 24/7 Watch Desk*
Learn more about FEMA Sheltering and Housing Assistance you may be eligible to receive.
Understand the general eligibility criteria that need to be met to receive assistance.
Learn about citizenship and immigration status requirements for federal public benefits.
Review what FEMA assistance covers for households and other needs.
Learn how to apply for assistance online, by phone or in person.
📣 Updates from our Governor on Ray Gibson’s Show
Huge shout out to our home girl, Steph M., who listened to the radio and relayed this information to us. YOU THE REAL MVP! 🙌🏻
🔋 GPA
Good news is no major poles fell, which makes the repairs easier for GPA. They’re starting power repairs northbound from Yigo to Dededo and so forth, making their way down. GPA told her we’re at 35% power and estimated as soon as the end of May to be full power. She says that’s too optimistic though, and doesn’t expect it too soon.
💧 GWA
Anyone with well water or underground should be okay to use, but surface water, like from rivers or treatment centers, may be compromised. The problem is the tanks need generators to power and cleanse, so they already got approval to get them from FEMA.
🚢 On-ground assistance
USS Nimitz is landing tomorrow. Will assist with debris cleanup. 200 FEMA employees are on the island and ready to deploy basic necessities and an additional 200 employees will be arriving soon. Biden confirmed that this is a major disaster which means we’ll be getting direct services instead of 3rd party.
One rumor she addressed is that we’re not short on fuel. The problem is distributing them to all the gas stations.
🌀 CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Typhoon Diaries
Post Mawar. Street views of a few areas hit the hardest in Dededo and Yigo.
Tell us about your experience during and/or after the typhoon. Send us a photo and a sentence or short paragraph of your story, your name, and your village.
P.S. RIP to all the mangoes and trees that we were looking forward to during this year’s mango festival. But not to worry, per the Agat Mayor’s office, the festival has been postponed to June 30th, July 1st and 2nd. Here’s a tribute to our last issue, where we expressed our luff for mangoes.
Stay safe, fam ✌🏻