December 23, 2001

11:24 AM

Super-Typhoon Faxai Glances Guam and Saipan
A typhoon with winds of >160mph at the eye moves into the Marianas Islands. Major cities will not be severly impacted, but the storm will move incredibly close to islands with two dozen people on them. I would not like to be on an island with a only few dozen other people, storm or no storm! (NWS, News, SuperTyphoon, Tiny Places)
posted by rschram (7 comments total)

Just strap yourself to a coconut tree and pray not to get hit by a shrubbery.
posted by bloggboy at 12:32 PM on December 23, 2001

I would not like to be on an island with a only few dozen other people, storm or no storm!

Funny, I'd go tomorrow, storm or no storm.
posted by rushmc at 2:45 PM on December 23, 2001

There are a 14 people there, and they are sheltering in caves. Brr.
posted by rschram at 5:36 PM on December 23, 2001

The island is experiencing strong winds and rough seas, [sic] but has sustained no major damage.

Thank God the island wasn't hurt. It would have been awful if a piece of it had broken off.
posted by bloggboy at 6:25 PM on December 23, 2001

Indeed, bloggboy! It's post 9-11 and we're all looking at Plan B here, "Tree and Potential Windborne Missles Removal, etc. ..."

Even South Florida only requires buildings to withstand 150 mph winds, not 160+!
posted by sheauga at 8:14 PM on December 23, 2001

I'm with rushmc. Where is this (probably mythical) paradise of which you post?
posted by GatorDavid at 3:01 AM on December 24, 2001

The country that vacations together, continues to be a haven for money laundering. Niue has a much larger population than the 14 people on the northern island of CNMI, but they seem to be so small as to make life slow to a snail's pace around Christmas. TV and radio are on, but there will be "no news until the new year."
posted by rschram at 5:10 PM on December 24, 2001