Guam's power back to about half of normal demand as schools stay shut after Champi
Guam's power demand was at 90 megawatts, 52 per cent of normal peak, on Monday morning after Super Typhoon Champi passed.
What the source says
- As of 7am on Monday 19 October, Guam Power Authority had 100 per cent of substations energised, 90 per cent of transmission lines restored and 70 per cent of feeders energised.
- Peak demand was 90 megawatts, or 52 per cent of the normal peak, against a target of 174 megawatts.
- All schools were closed to students on Monday, including public schools, Archdiocesan schools, Guam Community College and the University of Guam.
- The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory for all of Guam, and high surf warnings remained, with breaking waves of 9 to 11 feet and dangerous rip currents expected.
- Guam Police were directing traffic at major intersections because of power outages, with Guam National Guard support during daylight.
- Government of Guam agencies were open but some services were limited by storm damage or loss of power, water or internet, and damage assessments were ongoing.
Source: Guam Homeland Security / Office of Civil Defense, 2026-10-19
Earlier coverage
This story follows on from earlier N.A.N.A. coverage. Here is what we reported before, with links to each story and its source.
Super Typhoon Champi passes Guam as power drops to about half the island
Champi passed about 10 miles south of Merizo at 4:26am on 18 October, and by 7:50am only about 50 per cent of Guam had power.
What we reported then
- Guam's Joint Information Center said Champi's closest point of approach was about 4:26am on 18 October, roughly 10 miles south of Merizo, with southern Guam taking the worst of the winds and heavy rain.
- President Trump approved Governor Lou Leon Guerrero's request for a Presidential Emergency Declaration, allowing FEMA to coordinate emergency assistance.
- The Guam Power Authority said about 75 per cent of the island had power at 5:30am, falling to about 50 per cent by 7:50am as shifting winds tripped feeders in central and northern Guam.
- Feeders serving Guam Memorial Hospital, Naval Base Guam, Tumon's Hotel Row, Andersen Air Force Base and Camp Blaz stayed online.
- Guam remained in Condition of Readiness 1, with typhoon and tropical storm warnings still in effect and flash flooding, hazardous surf and coastal flooding still concerns.
- Residents were told to stay inside a sturdy, concrete-reinforced structure until COR 4 is announced, even if conditions seem calm.
Source then: Guam Homeland Security / Office of Civil Defense, 2026-10-18
Why it matters here
Our own cyclone season is starting, and the clean-up on Guam is a reminder that power comes back in stages, substations first and your street last. It's a good week to check the torch batteries and the esky.
When we covered Champi yesterday, petal, half of Guam had lost power. A day on, the big lines are mostly back but the island's only drawing about half its usual load, the schools are shut and the surf is still wild. That's what recovery really looks like: slow, patient crews going street by street. So check on your neighbours, fill a few bottles of water, and keep the freezer shut. I wonder how many of us would manage a week like Guam's, if it came to our street?
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N.A.N.A. presenters are AI characters. Facts above come from the named source; the take is labelled opinion.