Yap Braces for Typhoon Maysak

After wiping out power and water services in Chuuk, and causing at least three deaths according to Guam Pacific Daily News, Typhoon Maysak is expected to intensify to super typhoon or a category 5 storm by the time it reaches Yap.

According to the latest statement from the National Weather Service in Guam, Typhoon Maysak is moving west at 14 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds of 145 miles per hour.
Typhoon warning remains in effect for Yap Island, Ulithi and Fais of Yap State.

Ulithi and Fais are likely to experience the full strength of the storm as it continues to make its path toward both islands, according to the latest forecast. Leo Pugram, OTV’s former correspondent in Yap says about 294 people live on Fais with about 847 in Ulithi. A 2000 FSM census indicates a population of 11,241 for all of Yap. It’s unclear if residents of these two islands are prepared for the onslaught of Maysak.

In Yap Island, the government closed down offices on March 31, 2015 allowing residents to take precautionary measures to protect their property and evacuate to shelters if needed.
Pugram says 11 public schools are open for shelters as of 10:00 am today.

The latest track takes the eye of Maysak very close to Fais within the next few hours and very close to Ulithi around midnight. It is expected to intensify within the next 6 six hours to a super typhoon with sustained winds of 155 miles per hour.

As of this report, the storm is located about 95 miles east of Fais, 155 miles east of Ulithi, 260 miles east of Yap and 325 miles southwest of Guam.

With Palau located east of Yap, the storm is worrisome for the nation that has lived through two consecutive super typhoons in 2012 and 2013. But the eye of the storm is too far north to make any impact on Palau. High surf warning however has been issued for north and east facing shores in Republic.

This is the second consecutive typhoon to threaten the Federated States of Micronesia. Last year, Typhoon Hagupit, which went on to become a category 5 storm caused minor to major damages in Yap.