Two US Pacific territories received federal emergency declarations after Champi reached the Mariana Islands on October 16, 2026, according to FEMA records.
What was declared
On October 17, FEMA approved:
- EM-3659 for Guam, listed as Typhoon Champi, covering the whole island.
- EM-3658 for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, listed as Tropical Storm Champi, covering the municipalities of Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
Both were approved the day after the storm began, which usually means the governor asked for help before or during the storm so that federal teams and supplies could be in place quickly.
What an emergency declaration does
An emergency declaration is smaller than a major disaster declaration. It pays for urgent work such as shelters, debris clearing that protects lives, and protective measures. FEMA’s records show neither declaration includes the Individual and Households Program, so they do not on their own provide grants to residents for home repairs. If damage turns out to be larger, a territory can ask for a major disaster declaration later.
Why the Marianas get hit so often
Guam and the Northern Marianas sit in the western Pacific, where typhoons form in every month of the year. The peak runs from about July to November. Recent storms that led to federal declarations include Typhoon Mawar, which struck Guam in May 2023, and Super Typhoon Yutu, which hit Tinian and Saipan in October 2018. The photo above shows power line crews restoring service on Tinian after an earlier typhoon.
Homes in the islands are often built from reinforced concrete for this reason, and building codes there assume very high winds.
Getting ready for the next storm
- Keep at least a week of water, food and medicine. Island supply chains can take time to recover.
- Know the Guam Homeland Security or CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management shelter list before a storm is named.
- Photograph your home and belongings now, so insurance claims are easier later.
- Read our hurricane season guide and emergency kit checklist.
Questions people ask
Is a typhoon the same as a hurricane? Yes. Both are tropical cyclones. They are called typhoons in the northwest Pacific and hurricanes in the Atlantic and northeast Pacific.
Can residents get FEMA grants after Champi? Not under these emergency declarations. Grants to households need a major disaster declaration that includes Individual Assistance.
Does Hazard Compass have risk pages for Guam? Not yet. FEMA’s National Risk Index, which our county pages use, covers the 50 states and DC. See hurricane risk by county for the states.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved November 8, 2026.