Hagåtña, Guam — Guam is under a state of emergency and its highest storm-readiness level as Super Typhoon Champi bears down on the island with Category 4 strength.

What is happening: Governor Lou Leon Guerrero signed an executive order Friday declaring a state of emergency for Guam ahead of Champi. On Saturday afternoon she moved the island to Condition of Readiness 1 — the final readiness level — with residents ordered to stay indoors until COR 4 is declared. The National Weather Service says Champi strengthened from a tropical storm to a Category 4 typhoon in less than a day, packing sustained winds of 140 miles an hour. The storm's closest point of approach came about 10 miles off Guam's shore early Sunday morning local time. A Typhoon Warning remains in effect for Guam and Rota, and a Tropical Storm Warning continues for Tinian and Saipan.

Local impacts: Forecasters warn of life-threatening winds, coastal flooding, and widespread power outages across the Marianas through tonight. The Guam Power Authority has laid out restoration priorities — hospitals, critical health care centers, communications infrastructure, and emergency operations first — for the outages Champi is expected to bring. At least one emergency shelter has reached capacity as residents seek safe ground.

What to do:

- Stay indoors and do not leave your shelter until COR 4 — the all-clear — is announced.

- Do not go outside to check for damage while winds are still up; typhoon-force gusts can return suddenly.

- Have flashlights, batteries, water, and food ready in case power and water service go out.

- Keep watching official guidance from Guam Homeland Security and the National Weather Service for any flood warnings.

Source: The Guam Daily Post / Guam News Now, October 17. Reported by TNW News.