Guam Power Authority clearing trees and from powerlines after Typhoon Mawar in May 2023. Photo: Guam Power Authority
The mayor of Guam's second largest and most populated village says she feels the recovery has been "very slow" two weeks after Typhoon Mawar made landfall in the territory.
In a statement on June 8, Guam Power Authority said half of its customers now have power. While the customer demand - including for commercial use - was 66 per cent of what it was prior to the typhoon.
Guam Waterworks Authority is reporting about 70 per cent of the island has access to water.
However, Dededo's Mayor Melissa Savares said for her village in the north of Guam, only about half of the community had water and electricity.
She has been advised utilities should be back to pre-typhoon levels on June 26.
"We're patient but I don't know for how much more," Savares said.
She said it has taken a similar amount of time to get services running after previous typhoons but expected it to be better this time.
"Considering that we have improved infrastructure, I feel that it's very slow.
"The community knows we pay extra fees attached to our utility for improved infrastructure."
Guam was hit by Typhoon Mawar when it was at category four strength, bringing sustained winds of up to 225 kilometres per hour and in some locations, rain exceeding 500mm in the space of 12 hours.
The eye of the storm went through the Rota channel and briefly clipped northern Guam.
Savares said some tin and wood structures were destroyed.
Some of the community made it to the shelters, while others waited it out in their bathrooms, which is considered the safest room, she said.
"We're a very resilient community, we don't wait for anybody to come in and take care of us.
"We all help our neighbours out to clean up, to try to get back."
Savares said some people are back to work on the island while others are waiting for power and water to return.