Calvo to Obama: Declare disaster

The governor on Thursday asked President Obama to declare a major disaster for Guam following Typhoon Dolphin. If approved, it would trigger federally funded disaster aid for the island.

"The storm caused hundreds of families to seek emergency shelter, caused damage to the island's power system, which had a collateral effect on the island's water system, and caused millions of dollars in damage," the request states.

The typhoon passed between Guam and Rota on May 15, bringing the most damage to Guam's northern villages and knocking out power and water to thousands of homes.

More than 1,000 people sought safety at eight GovGuam emergency shelters during the storm.

The government of Guam estimates the typhoon caused $1.9 million in damage to commercial businesses and $1.2 million in crop losses to local farmers, the governor's request states.

The storm left the island's utilities with more than $2 million in damage, according to John Benavente, general manager for Consolidated Utilities Services. Guam Power Authority damage from the typhoon totals about $2 million and Guam Waterworks Authority damage about $150,000, Benavente said.

Gov. Eddie Calvo stated in his request that Typhoon Dolphin "added to the economic burden" of four other typhoons that passed near the island during the last 18 months.

No emergency disaster declarations were issued for the four previous storms. The current request is pending.

"The situation is of such magnitude that effective response and adequate recovery is beyond the capabilities of the government of Guam and affected organizations," the governor's request states.

Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo on Thursday wrote to President Obama in support of Calvo's request for a disaster declaration, according to a release from her office.

"This declaration is critical to recovery efforts and necessary to help those who are still impacted return to state of normalcy. It would also help to offset the costs to GovGuam, local businesses and island residents who were severely impacted by the typhoon," Bordallo said in the release.