Campus Alert Archive
UOG

UOG Battened Down for Bolaven, Which Strengthened Into a Super Typhoon Just After Brushing Guam

GUhurricaneadvisorymedium confidence

In October 2023 the University of Guam closed its Mangilao campus and issued campus advisories as Tropical Storm Bolaven) approached and the island moved up through its Conditions of Readiness. Bolaven passed about 50 miles north of Guam on the afternoon of October 10 (ChST), bringing strong winds and heavy rain before strengthening into a Category 5-equivalent super typhoon after it cleared the Marianas. Guam was given the all-clear and reverted to COR 4 at about 10 a.m. on October 11, 2023, and UOG advised the community on the resumption of operations.

Alerts
3
Response
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Killed
—
Injured
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Institution
University of Guam
Territory · GU
UOG Campus Advisory
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTWebsite
Approximate reconstruction277 chars
CAMPUS ADVISORY: In preparation for Tropical Storm Bolaven, the University of Guam is suspending classes and closing the Mangilao campus. Essential personnel should secure work areas. Students and employees should shelter and monitor official Guam Homeland Security advisories.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from UOG's Campus Advisories practice and reporting that Guam moved into COR 2 on October 9, 2023, with essential personnel asked to prepare campus.
Chamorro Standard Time (ChST, UTC+10, no DST) governs Guam; the territory steps through Conditions of Readiness (COR 4 down to COR 1) as a tropical cyclone nears.
UPDATEWebsite
Approximate reconstruction212 chars
CAMPUS ADVISORY UPDATE: Guam is in Condition of Readiness 1. The University of Guam remains closed. Do not travel. Remain indoors and away from windows until government officials lower the Condition of Readiness.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from reporting that Guam was in COR 1 on the evening of October 10, 2023, the highest pre-impact readiness condition, with residents told to remain indoors.
Bolaven passed roughly 50 miles north of Guam that afternoon, scraping about 20 miles north of Rota, before rapidly intensifying into a super typhoon over open water.
ALL CLEARWebsite
Approximate reconstruction187 chars
CAMPUS ADVISORY: Guam is now in COR 4 and the all-clear has been given. The University of Guam will resume operations. Use caution for flooding and downed debris when returning to campus.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed all-clear: Guam was declared all-clear and reverted to COR 4, its lowest typhoon-preparatory status, at about 10 a.m. ChST on October 11, 2023.
Flash flood warnings had been in effect into the prior night, so the reconstructed flooding-and-debris caution mirrors the actual post-storm hazard the NWS documented.
Context

Background

The University of Guam's Mangilao campus is in the direct path of West Pacific tropical cyclones, and UOG routinely posts Campus Advisories tied to Guam's Conditions of Readiness. In October 2023, Tropical Storm Bolaven) approached the Marianas; Guam moved into COR 2 on October 9 and COR 1 on the evening of October 10, with the community advised to remain indoors. According to Stars and Stripes, Bolaven passed about 50 miles north of Guam on October 10 and scraped about 20 miles north of Rota, then rapidly intensified into a Category 5-equivalent super typhoon after clearing the islands. The National Weather Service Guam later documented flash flooding with several inches of rain, and a Presidential Emergency Declaration (FEMA EM-3601-GU) followed. Guam was given the all-clear and reverted to COR 4 at about 10 a.m. on October 11, after which UOG resumed operations. The full verbatim text of UOG's advisories during this event could not be retrieved, so the alerts here are reconstructed from the advisory index and COR reporting and marked unconfirmed.
Analysis

Key Findings

UOG's closure tracked Guam's territory-wide Condition of Readiness ladder, moving from COR 2 to COR 1 and back to COR 4 over roughly two days
Bolaven brushed about 50 miles north of Guam, sparing the island a direct hit before becoming a super typhoon over open ocean
A Presidential Emergency Declaration (FEMA EM-3601-GU) underscored that even a near-miss is treated as a federal emergency for the territory
Full verbatim UOG advisory text was not retrievable, so the alert sequence is reconstructed and flagged unconfirmed
Outcome
Guam was largely spared a direct hit; Bolaven brought flash flooding (the NWS estimated up to about 5.7 inches of rain) and strong winds but minimal structural damage, and a Presidential Emergency Declaration (FEMA EM-3601-GU) followed. UOG resumed normal operations after the island returned to COR 4.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Source
    Typhoon Bolaven (2023) - Wikipedia
    en.wikipedia.org
  2. News
    Typhoon Bolaven, stronger after close call with Guam, heads for open ocean - Stars and Stripes
    stripes.com
  3. Official
    Guam Tropical Storm Bolaven (EM-3601-GU) - FEMA
    fema.gov
  4. Official
    Campus Advisories - University of Guam
    uog.edu
Tags
typhoontropical-cycloneweatherterritoryguamuogcondition-of-readinessadvisory
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion