Typhoon Pongsona
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | December 2, 2002 |
Extratropical | December 11, 2002 |
Dissipated | December 12, 2002 |
Very strong typhoon | |
10-minute sustained (JMA) | |
Highest winds | 165 km/h (105 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 940 hPa (mbar); 27.76 inHg |
Category 4-equivalent super typhoon | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
Highest winds | 240 km/h (150 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 910 hPa (mbar); 26.87 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 1 indirect |
Damage | $730 million (2002 USD) |
Areas affected | Guam, Northern Mariana Islands |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 2002 Pacific typhoon season |
Typhoon Pongsona was the last
Typhoon Pongsona produced strong wind gusts peaking at 285 km/h (175 mph), which left the entire island of
Meteorological history
During late November, an area of convection persisted about 625 kilometers (388 miles) east-southeast of Pohnpei. Satellite imagery indicated broad cyclonic turning in the lower levels of the atmosphere, and a trough was located near the surface. The disturbance developed rainbands and gradually became better organized. By December 2, the system had an elongated low-level circulation, located to the south of the convection.[2] At 0600 UTC that day, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) classified the system as a tropical depression about 735 km (457 mi) east-northeast of Pohnpei.[3] Shortly thereafter, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert, and at 1800 UTC on December 2 the agency classified the system as Tropical Depression 31W. Initially the depression moved to the west-northwest, and early on December 3 the JTWC classified the system as a tropical storm.[2]
Initially, the circulation was exposed from the convection, although it was able to intensify into Tropical Storm Pongsona at 1200 UTC on December 3 while located 375 km (233 mi) northeast of Pohnpei.[2][3] It turned to the west on December 4, due to a ridge to the north. It slowly intensified, developing an eye feature on December 5. That day, both the JTWC and the JMA upgraded Pongsona to a typhoon about 1,150 km (710 mi) southeast of Guam.[2][3]
While continuing generally to the west, the eye of Pongsona gradually became better organized. A
Preparations
The
Nine shelters throughout the Northern Mariana Islands were opened to accommodate families needing assistance. Several schools opened classrooms as evacuation centers.
Impact
Federated States of Micronesia
Early in its duration, Pongsona first affected Pohnpei as a tropical storm. There, it produced heavy rains and gusty winds, though little damage was reported. Later, it brought tropical storm force winds to Chuuk. High waves from the storm washed over and covered some atolls.[4]
Guam
Typhoon Pongsona maintained a 65 km (40 mi) wide eye upon crossing the northern portion of the island of Guam; the Andersen Air Force Base was in the eye for two hours. Sustained winds from the typhoon peaked at 232 km/h (144 mph) with gusts peaking at 278 km/h (173 mph); gusts of at least 160 km/h (99 mph) affected the entire island. The lowest pressure on the island was 935 millibars (27.6 inHg), making Pongsona the third most intense typhoon to strike Guam; it is behind only a typhoon in 1900 (926 mbar, 27.3 inHg) and Typhoon Karen of 1962 (932 mbar, 27.5 inHg).[4]
Communications on the island failed due to the winds;[4] the entire island was left without power and phone service.[9] The winds greatly damaged 715 power poles and 513 transformers, leaving about $52 million in electrical damage reported (2002 USD$, 88.1 million 2024 USD).[7] The local weather office's communication link was cut off after flooding damaged a telecommunication facility, causing the National Weather Service in Honolulu, Hawaii, to provide backup support by temporarily issuing warnings and advisories. Many anemometers near the northern coastline failed from the winds.[4] The winds collapsed several walls at the Guam Memorial Hospital, resulting in major damage throughout the northern two-thirds of the facility and several units being shut down. Several hotels, churches, and schools received moderate damage, and the Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport received damage to navigation equipment.[7] Typhoon Pongsona also left 65% of the island's water wells inoperable,[7] with most of Guam left without water service following the storm.[9] Officials estimate the typhoon destroyed 1,300 homes, severely damaged 1,825, and lightly damaged 4,800.[10]
Tracking slowly across the center of the island, the intense inner
Across Guam, damage totaled over $700 million (2002 USD$, 1.19 billion 2024 USD), placing it among the five costliest typhoons on the island. The typhoon injured 193 people, as reported by the Guam Department of Health; most were lacerations and fractures caused by flying glass and other debris. There was one indirect death attributed to the storm, when a 71-year-old woman was cut by flying glass and subsequently suffered a fatal heart attack; medical help could not reach her due to the intensity of the storm. As six typhoons had passed directly over the island during the previous ten years, officials in Guam enacted strong building standards, keeping deaths and injuries to a minimum. The typhoon was considered by the public the worst typhoon to ever strike the island due to the large eye affecting most of the population.[4]
Northern Mariana Islands
Pongsona produced sustained winds of 126 km/h (78 mph) with a gust to 137 km/h (85 mph) on Rota. The combination of winds and other effects from the typhoon destroyed 114 houses, severely damaged 154, and caused minor damage to 306; on the island, about 200 families were left homeless. The typhoon produced a storm surge of 6.7 m (22 ft) at the village of Songsong, which crossed about 80% of the southwestern peninsula on Rota. The surge caused moderate beach erosion on the island and destroyed a fuel pier and a loading pipeline. Additionally, the typhoon caused severe crop damage on the island. In all, the typhoon caused ten minor injuries on Rota and resulted in over $30 million in damage (2002 USD, 50.8 million 2024 USD).[7]
On Tinian, the passage of Pongsona destroyed two homes; seven received major damage, and another eight sustained minor damage. The winds damaged power lines, causing two island-wide power outages. Major crop damage was reported.[7]
On Saipan, two houses were destroyed and fifteen were damaged, seven severely. Sustained winds on the island peaked at 71 km/h (44 mph), which caused scattered power outages. Six minor injuries were reported, and damage totaled about $100,000 (2002 USD, 169,399 2024 USD).[7]
Aftermath
On the same day that Typhoon Pongsona struck Guam, President George W. Bush declared the island a major disaster area.[11] Around the time of the cyclone passing over the island, 2,271 residents were in shelters, and by the next day it increased to 3,467 after people discovered their homes were uninhabitable.[7] With thirteen Red Cross shelters across Guam,[12] most remained in shelters for about three weeks before disaster tents were distributed.[7] The American Red Cross worked with the United States Department of Agriculture to provide meals for shelter attendees for a two-week period following the typhoon.[12] Through the collaboration of federal and other agencies, disaster assistance on Guam totaled over $300 million (2003 USD, $335 million 2007 USD) by 100 days after the typhoon struck, including $60 million (2002 USD$, 102 million 2024 USD) in initial disaster response. Nearly 29,000 individuals registered for disaster assistance, with the first assistance check arrived ten days after the disaster declaration. By three months after the storm, the United States Small Business Administration approved $130 million (2003 USD$, 215 million 2024 USD) in low-interest loans.[1]
During the height of the typhoon at Cabras Island on Guam, a gasoline tank caught fire, believed to be from friction caused by extremely high winds running through its ventilation system. The tank exploded, sending its lid airborne and spreading the fire to other nearby tanks. The proximity of the tanks as well as low water pressure hampered firefighting efforts, and the fire was extinguished five days later; it resulted in three destroyed gasoline tanks with two more caught on fire.[7]
On December 11, 2002, President Bush extended the disaster declaration to include the Northern Mariana Islands, which allocated emergency disaster aid for the territory. The declaration provided funding for 75% of the budget for debris removal and emergency protective measures.[13] Immediately following the typhoon, FEMA assigned various federal agencies to respond to the island of Rota. Officials airlifted about 3,600 kg (7,900 lb) of emergency supplies including tents, tarps, water containers, coolers, cooking kits and electrical equipment. Military personnel were transported to assist in recovery efforts. By four months after the typhoon, 749 individuals on the island registered through FEMA's teleregistration number. The United States Small Business Administration approved 147 low– interest loans for $9.1 million (2003 USD$, 15.1 million 2024 USD) to individuals and businesses and for economic injury on Rota. In all, disaster aid to Rota totaled $17.4 million (2003 USD$, 28.8 million.[14] Additionally, President Bush authorized disaster assistance for the Federated States of Micronesia.[15]
Retirement
Due to the damage resulted from the storm, the name Pongsona was retired during the 38th session of the
See also
- List of typhoons on Guam
- Tropical cyclones in 2002
- Typhoon Paka (1997)
- Typhoon Dolphin (2015)
- Typhoon Mawar (2023)
References
- ^ a b Federal Emergency Management Agency (2003). "Super Typhoon Pongsona: The First 100 Days Over $300 Million In Disaster Relief And Assistance". Retrieved 2013-01-02.
- ^ a b c d e f g Gary Padgett (2003). "Tropical Cyclone Summary for December 2002". Retrieved 2006-07-19.
- ^ a b c d Japan Meteorological Agency (2002). "2002 Western Pacific Tropical Summary" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
- ^ a b c d e f g h John J. Kelly Jr. (2003). "Super Typhoon Pongsona Service Assessment" (PDF). United States Department of Commerce. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-27. Retrieved 2006-10-07.
- ^ Saipan Tribune (2002). "Residents told: Prepare for typhoon". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2006-10-07.
- ^ a b Sabina Salas (2002). "Brace for impact:Pongsona to hit Guam and Rota this afternoon". KUAM. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2006-10-07.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Pacific" (PDF). Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena with Late Reports. 44 (12). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: 119–121. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-07-30. Retrieved 2012-10-27.
- ^ FEMA (2003). "When the Media is a Disaster Victim: How one small Paper kept the world informed". Retrieved 2013-01-02.
- ^ a b Federal Emergency Management Agency (2003). "Update on Recovery Efforts in Guam and Rota following Super Typhoon Pongsona". Archived from the original (DOC) on September 30, 2006. Retrieved 2007-06-29.
- ^ Bonnie Gillespie (2002). "Hope Prevails Amid Complex Recovery in Guam". RedCross.org. Archived from the original on 2008-02-06. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
- ^ Federal Emergency Management Agency (2002-12-08). "President Declares Major Disaster For Guam Typhoon". Retrieved 2013-01-02.
- ^ a b FEMA (2002-12-13). "Coordinating Massive Federal Aid For Guam". Retrieved 2013-01-02.
- ^ FEMA (2002-12-11). "President Orders Disaster Aid For Northern Mariana Islands Typhoon Response". Archived from the original on 2015-03-22. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
- ^ FEMA (2003-04-03). "CNMI Disaster Assistance Tops $17 Million For Typhoon Pongsona". Retrieved 2013-01-02.
- ^ FEMA (2003-01-06). "President Declares Major Disaster For Micronesia". Retrieved 2013-01-02.
- ^ ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee (2005). "38th Session of the Typhoon Committee". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
External links
- RSMC Tokyo - Typhoon Center
- Best Track Data of Typhoon Pongsona (0226) (in Japanese)
- Best Track Data (Graphics) of Typhoon Pongsona (0226)
- Best Track Data (Text)
- JTWC Best Track Data of Super Typhoon 31W (Pongsona)