Typhoon Karen, Nov. 11, 1962
Typhoon Karen passed directly over Guam on the night of Nov. 11, 1962 with sustained winds of 175 mph.
The storm is credited with destroying or causing severe damage to almost all of the homes and buildings on the island, and is regarded as the most powerful storm to ever hit Guam.
The storm made international news, with the Associated Press reporting that “Guam’s acting governor, Manuel Guerrero, sent an urgent appeal to Washington to rush aid. He said ‘Entire territory devastated by Typhoon Karen.”
“Guerrero’s message said 95% of the island’s civilian community, including government employee housing, was useless or destroyed.”
“Pacific Fleet headquarters said four of every five civilian homes had their roofs blown off.”
“The acting governor’s message said George Washington High and Tumon Junior High Schools were destroyed. Guam Memorial Hospital, the island’s public works department and utilities agencies were extensively damaged, Guerrero said.”
Scenes from Karen, 1962
A look at other powerful storms that struck Guam
Past storms on Guam
Karen. Pamela. Omar. Paka. Pongsona. Dolphin. Mangkhut. The bigger storms that blasted Guam are remembered.
Typhoon Pamela: May 21, 1976
Pamela was already a killer storm by the time it reached Guam, leaving 10 dead in Chuuk before devastating Guam.
Typhoon Russ: Dec. 21, 1990
The eye of Typhoon Russ passed about 15 miles south of Guam a few days before Christmas in 1990.
Super Typhoon Yuri: Nov. 27, 1991
With sustained winds of 165 mph and gusts of 200 mph, Yuri passed about 50 miles south of the island, generating 24-foot waves in the south.
Typhoon Omar: Aug. 28, 1992
The eye of Omar passed directly over the island, causing extensive damage. The 1992 storm season was especially active on Guam, and in other parts of the country.
Super Typhoon Paka: Dec. 16, 1997
Paka's eye passed between Guam and Rota, generating typhoon winds on both islands.
SUper Typhoon Pongsona: Dec. 8, 2002
``There is no doubt that the impact of this latest storm will be devastating,″ Gov. Carl Gutierrez wrote to President Bush in a request for a disaster declaration.
Typhoon Dolphin: May 15, 2015
The eye of Typhoon Dolphin passed between Guam and Rota, the first time since Pongsona that typhoon-force winds were recorded on Guam.
Typhoon Mangkhut: Sept. 10, 2018
Passing between Guam and Rota overnight, Typhoon Mangkhut caused flooding and knocked out power to about 80% of Guam.