In April, Red Cross volunteers fanned out across this Saipan community hit hard by Typhoon Sinlaku, distributing relief supplies. Sinlaku was the first storm, followed by Super Typhoon Bavi in July. A third storm is headed toward the region this weekend and the American Red Cross is there, ready to lend a hand once again. Photo by Scott Marder/American Red Cross.
As residents prepare for this third storm, many are already carrying the physical, financial and emotional toll of the previous disasters. Those who lost their homes now face the possibility of being displaced again.
People on Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands are bracing for the extensive damage expected this weekend from the third typhoon to hit the region since April.
Tropical Storm Champi is predicted to strengthen to a typhoon with 85 to 110 mph sustained winds, 12 to 20 inches of rain and a dangerous surf as it crosses the islands. The American Red Cross is there, supporting residents as they face this latest challenge.
The National Weather Service reports people on the islands should expect widespread wind damage to homes, power outages that could last for weeks and extensive flooding from both the torrential rain and high surf. People should listen for possible warnings and be ready to evacuate, complying with any orders that are issued. Champi could make a direct hit on Guam but people on Saipan, Tinian and Rota will also experience the effects of the storm.
THIRD TIME SINCE APRIL Champi is the third massive storm to hit the islands in just the last six months, people unable to recover due to the constant onslaught of devastating weather.
The region was first slammed by Super Typhoon Sinlaku on April 14. Then, on July 6, Super Typhoon Bavi made landfall on Rota as the strongest storm in the island’s history, while damaging winds swept across Guam, Tinian and Saipan. The back-to-back storms left a trail of devastation, and many people are still trying to rebuild their lives and homes.
As residents prepare for this third storm, many are already carrying the physical, financial and emotional toll of the previous disasters. Those who lost their homes now face the possibility of being displaced again. Many families are still living in tents that must be taken down ahead of the storm, forcing them to seek refuge in shelters or with friends and relatives.
RECOVERING EMOTIONALLY Disasters are upsetting for everyone they touch. Children, senior citizens, people with disabilities and people for whom English is not their first language are especially at risk and may need extra care. Everyone deserves support throughout the recovery process. If you or a loved one needs help, call or text the free 24/7 Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800- 985-5990. More information is available here.
RED CROSS RESPONSE The Red Cross is on the ground, coordinating response plans to ensure help and support are in place where needed.
A national disaster team is preparing to respond in partnership with the Guam and CNMI Red Cross chapters as well as local officials and community partners. Across the U.S., more than 150 Red Cross disaster responders have volunteered to make the 20+ hour trip to help. Almost 90 Red Crossers are on the islands now and as many as 70 more are on their way. They will join forces with local volunteers to support people needing help.
The Red Cross will operate or support shelters on all of the islands, with as many as 13 set to open before the storm hits. The Red Cross has also shipped relief supplies to the region, including solar lights, butane stoves/canisters, mosquito nets, LED flashlights, water jugs and more, and is sending in 30,000 meals through Tzu Chi.
SHELTERS OPEN People should be prepared to evacuate quickly and leave the area if local officials tell them to do so. They can find open Red Cross shelters on redcross.org, the free Red Cross Emergency app or by calling the local Red Cross chapter at 671-472-6217 to get connected to our call center at 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767). They can also check with local officials and monitor local news for information on where to find emergency shelter.
Red Cross shelters are open to everyone in need and all disaster assistance is free. We don’t require people to show any kind of identification to enter a shelter — just their name and where they were living before the disaster. On the islands, shelters open in partnership with island Education Departments, then are taken over by local officials. The Red Cross is finalizing plans to support sheltering after the storm’s impact
YOU CAN HELP people affected by disasters like floods, storms and countless other crises by making a donation to Red Cross Disaster Relief. Donate by visiting redcross.org, calling 1- 800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small, whenever and wherever they occur across the country.
You can also help by becoming a volunteer. Visit redcross.org/volunteer to learn more. The Guam and CNMI chapters invite you to support your community by registering as a volunteer with your local chapter. Guam Chapter, (671) 472-6217 CNMI Chapter, (670) 234-3459.
TYPHOON SAFETY Know the difference between a typhoon watch and warning. A typhoon watch means conditions are a threat within 48 hours. A typhoon warning means conditions are expected within 36 hours.
Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP) Through the generosity of our Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP) and Disaster Responder Program Members, the Red Cross is prepared before disaster strikes. These members help secure a reliable funding base for disaster relief services that enables us to respond immediately, meeting the needs of individuals and families affected by disaster, regardless of cost. Right now, the Red Cross is on the ground and taking action with the support of our valuable members.
Mission Leader Members: Amazon; American Airlines; Bank of America; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; The Coca-Cola Foundation; Costco Wholesale; Ford Philanthropy; Lowe's; State Farm®
ADGP Leaders: Anheuser-Busch Foundation; Caterpillar Foundation; Chick-fil-A; CMA CGM Foundation; Delta Air Lines; Enterprise Mobility Foundation; FedEx; Lilly Endowment Inc.; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Mastercard; McDonald’s Corporation; Merck; Nationwide Foundation; PetSmart Charities; The Pfizer Foundation; Ralph Lauren; The Starbucks Foundation; Takeda; Truist Foundation; USAA; Verizon; VSP Vision; Walmart and the Walmart Foundation; The Walt Disney Company; Wells Fargo Foundation
ADGP Members: The Allstate Foundation; Altria Group; Aon; Baxter International Foundation; Bread Financial; Capital One; Citi Foundation; The Clorox Company; Danaher Foundation; Darden Foundation; Delta Dental; Edison International Foundation; Elevance Health Foundation; Energy Transfer/Sunoco Foundation; Fox Corporation; GE Aerospace Foundation; General Motors; Google.org; Harbor Freight Tools Foundation, LLC; HCA Healthcare; The Home Depot Foundation; Honda; The J.M. Smucker Company; Johnson Controls Foundation; The Kroger Co. Foundation; Marathon Petroleum Corporation; Mondelēz International Foundation; New Balance Foundation; PayPal; The PG&E Corporation Foundation; Stryker; Suburban Propane; Target; The TJX Companies, Inc.; Toyota; United Airlines; UPS; U.S. Bank Foundation; Visa Foundation; The Wawa Foundation; Wesco; Wingstop Restaurants; The Winn-Dixie Company; Zoetis Foundation
Disaster Responder Program Members: 3M; 4Change Energy; 7-Eleven Cares Foundation; Adobe Foundation; The AES Corporation; Aflac; American Family Insurance; American Water Charitable Foundation; Ameriprise Financial; Assurant; AstraZeneca; Avangrid Foundation; Barclays; Bath & Body Works; Blue Cross Blue Shield Association; Build-A-Bear Foundation; Canadian National Railway; CDW; Charles Schwab Foundation; Cisco Systems, Inc. and Cisco Foundation; CNA Insurance; CSX; The Deluxe Foundation; DENSO North America Foundation; DHL Supply Chain; DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation; Dollar General; Dollar Tree; Duke Energy; Dutch Bros Coffee; Edward Jones; Eli Lilly and Company Foundation; Enbridge; Equitable ; Erie Insurance; Farmers Insurance®; Fastenal; GEICO Philanthropic Foundation; Grainger; HP Foundation; International Paper; John Deere; Johnson & Johnson Foundation; Keurig Dr Pepper; Kimberly-Clark Corporation; The Kraft Heinz Company Foundation ; L'Oréal Groupe; The Labcorp Charitable Foundation; Lenovo ; Liberty Mutual Insurance; LKQ; Macy’s, Inc.; Major League Baseball; Martin Marietta; Masco Corporation; McKesson Foundation; MetLife Foundation; Microsoft; Mutual of Omaha Foundation; NextEra Energy, Inc.; Nike Foundation; Norfolk Southern; Northrop Grumman Foundation; Northwestern Mutual; Old Dominion Freight Line; Old Republic; Pacific Life Foundation; PepsiCo Foundation; Phillips 66; Pilot Company; Prudential; QBE Foundation; Qualcomm; Raymond James; RBC Foundation USA; Reckitt; Reynolds American Inc.; RGA Foundation; RTX; Ryder System, Inc.; Salesforce; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Communities; Santander; Security Finance’s Lending Hand Foundation; ServiceNow; Southwest Airlines; Stanley Black & Decker; Sunbelt Rentals; T-Mobile; Tata Consultancy Services; Tennant Company; Toyota Tsusho America, Inc.; U-Haul International; Uber; Ulta Beauty Charitable Foundation; United States Steel; US Foods; Westlake Corporation; Yum! Brands; Zurich
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
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