One of the places where Super Typhoon Sinlaku’s impacts and ongoing recovery efforts can be seen is in the heart of the island’s tourism district. Community, government and military partners came together for a massive cleanup at Ypao Beach Park and Matapang Beach in Tumon, including nearly 100 servicemembers from the USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group.

After being damaged by Super Typhoon Sinlaku, the iconic “I Love Guam” sign is now back up at Ypao Beach Park, thanks to a massive community cleanup. Recovery efforts were underway in the heart of the island’s tourism district on Tuesday, after Sinlaku battered Guam’s shores.

Nearly 100 sailors and US Marines with the USS Boxer spent their time ashore assisting the Guam Visitors Bureau’s Destination Maintenance Team for the past two days. The joint operation focused on clearing significant amount of sand, trash and debris scattered by the storm, according to GVB public information officer Lisa Bordallo.

"They are cleaning up here in Ypao. It was a lot of work. It doesn’t seem so until you get into the main pavilions and see so much rocks and debris washed up, also at Matapang Beach Park. The half of the crew is cleaning up there, as well," Bordallo explained. "We’re so grateful to work with and welcome working with any volunteers groups that want to help in the recovery efforts."

It’s been all hands on deck since Sinlaku’s passage just north of Guam last week. Bordallo says various community groups have already been mobilizing to clean up Guam’s public beaches immediately after the storm. She added, "I know that the Guam Kayak and Canoe Federation, shout out to them, took it upon themselves to go down to Matapang on Saturday to start up the clean up down there."

"Then we heard of a bus driver group that was there yesterday, and DPR, of course their crews are working very hard, but a lot of the beach volleyball community has gotten together to go down to Jimmy Dees to try to clean up the beach there and assist the surrounding businesses. So we really appreciate all the community groups and the athletic organizations and the government agencies that have been working really hard to help Guam recover."

Those efforts are crucial as the island’s tourism industry is still on the road to recovery from Typhoon Mawar and the COVID-19 pandemic. "It’s extremely important. We already are seeing visitors coming in, but we want to put out that message that Guam is open. Guam is ready," said Bordallo. "We are ready for you to come in and visit. The faster that we recover our beaches, our public spaces, back to normal, the better it is for Guam."

In the meantime, visitors and residents alike were already seen enjoying the island’s beautiful waters, behind the backdrop of the iconic “I Love Guam” and “I Love Ypao” signs, now back together.