We are now two days into recovery on after Super Typhoon Sinlaku’s passage. Today, over 250 residents relying on emergency shelters across the island making the transition into Tier II shelters. And this shelter is so critical to families hit hard by Sinlaku.

At the Zero-Down Subdivision in Yigo, which was ground zero for Typhoon Mawar’s rage back in 2023, is now back in the spotlight in the aftermath of Sinlaku. A family who sought refuge during the storm coming home to find little of what they left behind.

Sally Roosevelt said, "It’s this one. You see, like the long roof, the one at the top where the rope is, it already came off so my brother had to climb up and just fixed it the next day." Like many others, Roosevelt and her family hunkered-down in Machanaonao Elementary School during the worst of the Category 5 storm.

But what they discovered coming home was heartbreaking. "Where we sleep, it's like all totally damaged," she explained. "Mostly, my auntie's house and brother’s house, like the roof came off and everything was already wet inside."

Just pallets remain of Roosevelt's and her daughter’s home, with the majority of their belongings in ruins. But she’s remaining strong, saying she’s grateful to the community who quickly mobilized to offer support.

Pastor Samuel Macedo and his wife Bruna are with the Universal Church in Dededo, with their church community assisting families across Zero-Down on Friday. "A lot of the trees went down and since the houses here don’t have a lot of structure, most of them are not concrete, we see a lot of things just fell. It’s bad. We’re trying to do the best as we can to help them," they shared.

"It was not too long ago that we went through this," said the pastor. "Now we’re a little bit prepared in terms of awareness, what to do, what not to do and just help each other out. We’re all just one family. It doesn’t matter if you’re m\Micronesian or CHamoru. We just have to help out."

The church group also helping out at The Yigo gym, which has been designated as a Tier II Shelter, as the Government of Guam transitions emergency shelter operations to Tier II, or long-term disaster recovery, with the American Red Cross now taking the lead.

Volunteers racing against the clock to quickly open the Tier II shelter, with Guam Department of Education schools expected to reopen for classes three days from now on Monday. Over 250 residents making the transition to the Yigo shelter Friday afternoon, including Roosevelt’s family.

Officials say that number could grow as they prepare to take in more people who may need shelter after Sinlaku.

Back at Zero-Down, Pastor Samuel says right now, families here need power, water and safe shelter the most, and community action to help rebuild. He said, "If everybody out there can stop asking hey, when is my power going to come on, why don’t you go to your neighbor and help him or her. It doesn’t matter who they are. Don’t ask what somebody can do for you, ask what you can do for somebody else."

In the meantime, this shelter will be critical for families like Roosevelt’s as they work to rebuild their homes.