View source for Typhoon Omar

{{Short description|Pacific typhoon in 1992}}
{{Other storms|List of storms named Omar|the 1992 Pacific typhoon|List of storms named Lusing}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox weather event
| name = Typhoon Omar (Lusing)
| image = Omar Aug 29 1992 2224Z.png
| caption = Omar over the Pacific Ocean at peak intensity on August&nbsp;29
| alt = Colored visible satellite image of Typhoon Omar displaying a well-defined eye surrounded by an expansive cloud circulation.
| formed = {{start date|1992|08|23}}<!--JMA-->
| dissipated = {{end date|1992|09|9}}<!--JMA-->
}}
{{Infobox weather event/JMA
| winds = 100
| pressure = 920
}}
{{Infobox weather event/JTWC
| winds = 130
| pressure = 
| basin = WPac
}}
{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| year = 1991
| fatalities = 15
| damage = 561200000
| areas = [[Guam]], [[Philippines]], [[Ryukyu Islands]], Taiwan, China, [[Vietnam]]
| refs = 
}}
{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = [[1992 Pacific typhoon season]]
}}
'''Typhoon Omar''' of 1992, known in the Philippines as '''Super''' '''Typhoon Lusing''',<ref name="adrc"/> was the strongest and costliest [[typhoon]] to strike [[Guam]] since [[Typhoon Pamela (1976)|Typhoon Pamela]] in 1976. The [[cyclone]] formed on August&nbsp;23 from the [[monsoon trough]] across the western [[Pacific Ocean]]. Moving westward, Omar slowly intensified into a [[tropical storm]], although another tropical cyclone nearby initially impeded further strengthening. After the two storms became more distant, Omar quickly strengthened into a powerful typhoon. On August&nbsp;28, it made [[landfall (meteorology)|landfall]] on Guam with winds of 195&nbsp;km/h (120&nbsp;mph). The typhoon reached its peak intensity the next day, with estimated 1‑minute winds of 240&nbsp;km/h (150&nbsp;mph), making it a [[Tropical cyclone scales#Western Pacific|"super typhoon"]] according to the [[Joint Typhoon Warning Center]] (JTWC).{{#tag:ref|Wind estimates averaged over one minute are derived from the American-based [[Joint Typhoon Warning Center]] in [[Hagåtña, Guam]].<ref name="atcr"/> Winds averaged over ten minutes are derived from the Japan Meteorological Agency, which is the official [[Regional Specialized Meteorological Center]] for the western Pacific Ocean.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=World Meteorological Organization|date=n.d.|access-date=August 18, 2015|title=Latest Advisories on Current Tropical Cyclones Hurricanes Typhoons|work=Tropical Cyclone Programme|location=Geneva, Switzerland|url=http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/Advisories-RSMCs.html}}</ref>|group="nb"}} Omar weakened significantly before striking eastern [[Taiwan]] on September&nbsp;4, proceeding into eastern China the next day and dissipating on September&nbsp;9.

On Guam, Omar caused one death and $457&nbsp;million (1992&nbsp;[[United States dollar|USD]]) in damage.{{#tag:ref|All damage totals are in 1992 values of their respective currencies.|group="nb"}} Strong gusts up to 248&nbsp;km/h (154&nbsp;mph) left nearly the entire island without power for several days. The outages disrupted the water system and prevented the island-based JTWC from issuing advisories for 11&nbsp;days. Omar damaged or destroyed 2,158&nbsp;houses, leaving 3,000&nbsp;people homeless. In response to the destruction, the island's building codes were updated to withstand winds of 250&nbsp;km/h (155&nbsp;mph), and insurance companies discontinued new policies for structures not made of concrete. While passing well north of the [[Philippines]], the typhoon killed 11&nbsp;people and wrought ₱903&nbsp;million ($35.4&nbsp;million) worth of damage to 538&nbsp;houses. Omar then brushed the southern islands of Japan with strong gusts and light rainfall, causing ¥476&nbsp;million [[Japanese Yen|JPY]] (US$3.8&nbsp;million) in crop losses. In [[Taiwan]], scattered flooding caused three deaths and $65&nbsp;million in damage, mostly to agriculture.

==Meteorological history==
{{storm path|Omar 1992 track.png|alt=Track of Typhoon Omar plotting its intensity at six-hour intervals. The track begins over the open Pacific Ocean near Kiribati and extends generally west-northwest, ultimately crossing Taiwan and eastern China before ending over northern Vietnam.}}
Typhoon Omar originated from a tropical disturbance that was first noted on August&nbsp;20 over the open [[Pacific Ocean]], which exhibited persistent [[convection (meteorology)|convection]], or thunderstorms. During this early phase, two [[tropical cyclone]]s dissipated and another became [[extratropical cyclone#extratropical transition|extratropical]] across the [[Tropical cyclone basins#Northwestern Pacific Ocean|western Pacific basin]]; this caused the [[monsoon trough]], which spawned most of the storms in the basin, to realign in a more climatologically appropriate manner.<ref name=atcr/> According to the [[Japan Meteorological Agency]]&nbsp;(JMA), Omar developed into a [[tropical depression]] at 1800&nbsp;[[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]] on August&nbsp;23.<ref name=jma>{{cite web|type=Database|publisher=Japan Meteorological Agency|date=June 2, 2014|title=RSMC Best Track Data (1990–1999)|access-date=July 7, 2014|url=http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/jma-eng/jma-center/rsmc-hp-pub-eg/Besttracks/bst9099.txt|format=TXT|location=Tokyo, Japan|archive-date=January 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122183440/http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/jma-eng/jma-center/rsmc-hp-pub-eg/Besttracks/bst9099.txt|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Joint Typhoon Warning Center]]&nbsp;(JTWC) assessed a slower pace of strengthening, issuing a [[tropical cyclone formation alert]] at 2100&nbsp;UTC before initiating advisories on Tropical Depression&nbsp;15W on August&nbsp;24.<ref name=atcr>{{cite report|publisher=Joint Typhoon Warning Center|first1=Donald A.|last1=Mautner|first2=Charles P.|last2=Guard|date=1992|title=1992 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report|series=Annual Tropical Cyclone Reports|access-date=July 7, 2014|url=http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1992atcr.pdf|pages=80–89|location=Hagåtña, Guam|archive-date=September 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915165323/http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/atcr/1992atcr.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

As the depression traveled generally westward, the JTWC upgraded it to Tropical Storm Omar on August&nbsp;25,<ref name=atcr /> and the JMA followed suit on the next day.<ref name=jma /> Omar began to slow as it tracked westward. [[outflow (meteorology)|Outflow]] from nearby [[1992 Pacific typhoon season#Severe Tropical Storm Polly .28Isang.29|Tropical Storm Polly]] to the west produced a stream of strong [[wind shear]] over Omar, slowing intensification. The JTWC noted that the shear could decouple Omar's wind circulation from its convection, possibly weakening the storm. However, as Omar and Polly moved farther apart, a [[ridge (meteorology)|high-pressure ridge]] developed between the storms. This caused Omar to drift northward and then west-northwestward into a region with decreased shear, which allowed it to resume strengthening. Early on August&nbsp;27, the JTWC upgraded the system to a typhoon, and an [[eye (cyclone)|eye]] began to appear around 23:00&nbsp;UTC that day.<ref name="ncdc"/> Omar entered a phase of [[Rapid deepening|rapid intensification]] on August&nbsp;28,<ref name=atcr /> at which point the JMA also classified it as a typhoon.<ref name=jma /> The typhoon made [[landfall (meteorology)|landfall]] on [[Guam]] soon after, with 1‑minute [[maximum sustained wind|sustained winds]] of about 195&nbsp;km/h (120&nbsp;mph).<ref name=atcr /> The eye, 37&nbsp;km (23&nbsp;mi) in diameter,<ref name=atcr /> slowly crossed the northern portion of the small island over a period of 2.5&nbsp;hours.<ref name="ncdc"/>

At 1800&nbsp;UTC on August&nbsp;29, Omar reached its peak intensity with 10‑minute sustained winds of 185&nbsp;km/h (115&nbsp;mph) and a minimum [[barometric pressure]] of 920&nbsp;[[bar (unit)|mbar]] ([[pascal (unit)|hPa]]; 27.17&nbsp;[[inches of mercury|inHg]]) as estimated by the JMA; this intensity was maintained for 24&nbsp;hours before a steady weakening trend began.<ref name=jma /> The JTWC estimated higher 1‑minute winds of around 240&nbsp;km/h (150&nbsp;mph), making Omar a [[Tropical cyclone scales#Western Pacific|super typhoon]].<ref name=atcr /> Two days later, the typhoon came close enough to the Philippines to warrant monitoring from [[PAGASA]],{{#tag:ref|[[PAGASA]] stands for the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration|group="nb"}} who named the storm ''Lusing''.<ref name="adrc"/> By 1500&nbsp;UTC on September&nbsp;3, the JMA downgraded Omar to a tropical storm,<ref name=jma /> although the JTWC maintained its typhoon intensity through the next day.<ref name=atcr /> Heading generally westward, the storm made landfall on the east coast of [[Taiwan]] near [[Hualien City]] on September&nbsp;4.<ref name=HKO/> After traversing the island in seven hours, Omar exited the coast of [[Yunlin County]] and emerged into the [[Taiwan Strait]].<ref name="cwb">{{cite report|publisher=Central Weather Bureau|language=zh|title=1992 年歐馬(OMAR)颱風|access-date=April 5, 2015|url=http://photino.cwb.gov.tw/tyweb/tyfnweb/image/pdf-file/1992OMAR.pdf|work=Typhoon Data Bank|location=Taipei, Taiwan|date=2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411164140/http://photino.cwb.gov.tw/tyweb/tyfnweb/image/pdf-file/1992OMAR.pdf|archive-date=April 11, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The storm crossed the body of water and moved ashore in eastern China near [[Xiamen]], [[Fujian]], on September&nbsp;5.<ref name=HKO>{{cite book|title=Tropical Cyclones in 1992|chapter-url=http://www.hko.gov.hk/publica/tc/tc1992.pdf|publisher=Hong Kong Observatory|access-date=July 8, 2014|location=Kowloon, Hong Kong|pages=14–15|chapter=Section 2: Tropical Cyclone Overview for 1992|date=September 1994|id=551.515.2:551.506.1(512.317)}}</ref> Inland, Omar quickly degenerated into a tropical depression before turning west-southwest. It proceeded across southern China while heavily weakening, and completely dissipated over northern [[Vietnam]] on September&nbsp;9.<ref name=jma />
{{clear}}

==Preparations and impact==
[[File:Typhoon Omar Anigua Guam.jpeg|thumb|250px|Damage from Omar in Anigua, Guam|alt=Elevated black and white photograph of businesses surrounding a shoreline road. Though the waves and sea can be seen in the background, floodwaters and strewn debris are visible in the foreground.]]

===Guam===
Ahead of the storm on August&nbsp;25, the [[United States Department of Defense]] set the [[Tropical cyclone warnings and watches#Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness|Condition of Readiness]] (COR) at stage 3 on Guam, indicating destructive winds were possible within 48&nbsp;hours. A day later, the COR was raised to stage 2; all but two [[United States Navy]] ships were [[sortie]]d from the harbor to prevent damage,<ref name="navy"/> and the remainder rode out the storm southwest of Guam.<ref name=HeadsOfGuam/> On August&nbsp;28, COR 1 was declared, the highest level.<ref name="navy">{{cite report|chapter=Section IV: Disaster Relief Operations|title=Command History 1992|date=October 29, 1993|publisher=Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Command; released to Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainability under Freedom of Information Act requests|volume=1 |issue=unclassified|access-date=April 3, 2015|page=163|url=http://nautilus.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/1992.pdf|location=Halawa, Hawaii}}</ref> In response, all [[fixed-wing aircraft]] and helicopters on the island were moved into hangars or transported to Japan or the Philippines.<ref name=HeadsOfGuam>{{cite news|title=Tropical storm heads for Guam|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19920826&id=GvxNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4820,4317092|access-date=July 8, 2014|newspaper=The Free-Lance Star|agency=Associated Press|issue=202|date=August 26, 1992|location=Fredericksburg, Virginia|page=A2|volume=108}}</ref> All schools were closed for the duration of Omar's passage over Guam.<ref name=CloserGuam>{{cite news|title=Tropical storm moves closer to Guam|url=https://apnews.com/d630c7f500e08db008334bc5f276797b|access-date=July 8, 2014|work=Associated Press News|date=August 26, 1992|location=Hagåtña, Guam}}</ref> Flight operations were suspended for at least two days,<ref name="nyt"/> stranding 5,000&nbsp;passengers on the island. About 3,100&nbsp;people rode out the storm in emergency shelters.<ref name="ap831"/>

Omar was the strongest and most damaging typhoon to hit Guam since [[Typhoon Pamela (1976)|Typhoon Pamela]] in [[1976 Pacific typhoon season|1976]].<ref name=atcr /><ref name="ncdc">{{cite journal |url=http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-4DE9ACF3-C99C-4CA7-AB11-A3D465B93ED9.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402143154/http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-4DE9ACF3-C99C-4CA7-AB11-A3D465B93ED9.pdf |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |title=Typhoon Omar strikes Guam on August&nbsp;28, 1992 |first1=William |last1=Angel |first2=Greg |last2=Hammer |first3=Jay |last3=Hollifield |first4=Sharon |last4=Weaver |volume=34 |number=9 |date=September 1992 |issn=0039-1972 |journal=Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena |pages=31&ndash;33 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The typhoon was felt on all parts of Guam;<ref name=FederalAsst>{{cite news|title=Federal assistance to typhoon-stricken Guam|agency=PR Newswire|date=August 28, 1992|location=New York, New York}}</ref> tropical-storm-force winds affected the island for 16&nbsp;hours,<ref name=atcr /> and wind gusts were estimated to have reached 248&nbsp;km/h (154&nbsp;mph) in areas beneath the western eyewall.<ref name="ncdc"/> However, the high winds caused the [[anemometer]] at [[Hagåtña, Guam|Hagåtña]] to fail during the eye's passage, and the radar at [[Andersen Air Force Base]] was lost,<ref name=atcr /> preventing accurate wind speed assessments.<ref name="navy"/> The lowest barometric pressure was {{convert|940|mbar|inHg|abbr=on|sigfig=4}} at [[Apra Harbor]]. Omar's slow movement resulted in prolonged heavy rainfall, peaking at {{convert|20.44|in|mm|abbr=on|order=flip}} at the Guam National Weather Service Office in Tiyan and reaching 417&nbsp;mm (16.41&nbsp;in) at Andersen AFB.<ref name="ncdc"/><ref name="WPCMAX">{{cite book|last=Roth|first=David M.|date=April 30, 2015|chapter=Tropical Cyclone Point Maxima|access-date=September 6, 2015|location=College Park, Maryland|chapter-url=http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/tcmaxima.html|url=http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/tcrainfall.html|publisher=Weather Prediction Center|title=Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Data}}</ref>

Damage on Guam was heaviest from the central region to the northern coast, in particular to tourist areas and military bases.<ref name="nyt">{{cite news|date=August 30, 1992|title=After the storm: Thousands on Guam lose homes in typhoon|newspaper=New York Times|access-date=April 1, 2015|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/30/us/after-the-storm-thousands-on-guam-lose-homes-in-typhoon.html|location=New York, New York}}</ref><ref name="ap829"/> The [[Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Pacific|Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station]] was shut down due to power outages and water damage to the generators.<ref name="navy"/> Two US Navy ships, the USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3) and the [[USS White Plains (AFS-4)]]—both naval supply ships—went aground due to rough seas and strong winds,<ref name="dod"/> and the [[dry dock]] at Apra Harbor was washed ashore.<ref name="navy"/> Omar destroyed dozens of businesses on the island.<ref name="ap920"/> High winds knocked a crane into an apartment building<ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|title=Typhoon Omar pummels Guam|newspaper=The Telegraph|page=20|volume=122|issue=446|location=London, UK|date=August 28, 1992|access-date=April 3, 2015|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2209&dat=19920828&id=qYlKAAAAIBAJ&pg=3911,5557621&hl=en}}</ref> and downed 400&nbsp;wooden and 20&nbsp;concrete power poles across [[Tumon]],<ref name=atcr /> leaving 70% of the island without power.<ref name="dod"/> Throughout Guam, Omar disrupted transportation and communication systems, and led to the failure of water pumping systems.<ref name=atcr /> Landslides covered roads, and low-lying areas were flooded.<ref name="nyt"/> About 2,000&nbsp;homes were destroyed and another 2,200 were damaged to varying degrees,<ref name="ap831"/> displacing nearly 3,000&nbsp;people.<ref name=atcr /> Destruction was heaviest to wooden structures; buildings made of concrete fared relatively well during the storm.<ref name="navy"/> Island-wide, damage totaled $457&nbsp;million,<ref name=atcr /> split nearly evenly between the military bases and civilian damage.<ref name="ap920"/> One person died on Guam,<ref name="navy"/> and more than 200&nbsp;people required emergency treatment<ref name=atcr />&mdash;including about 80&nbsp;injured by flying debris.<ref name="ap829"/>

===Elsewhere===
While over the open Pacific Ocean, Omar passed well northeast of the Philippines just days after Tropical Storm Polly caused flooding and deaths in the country. The nation's chief weather specialist noted that Omar was "more powerful than Polly and [able to] induce [[monsoon]] rains over a wide area."<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=New Straits Times|location=Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia|date=September 3, 1992|title=Typhoon Omar roars closer to the Philippines|page=23|access-date=April 5, 2015|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19920903&id=A5ZUAAAAIBAJ&pg=6821,1021534&hl=en}}</ref> Omar ultimately affected northern [[Luzon]], primarily the [[Cordillera Administrative Region]], [[Ilocos Region]], and the [[Cagayan Valley]].<ref name="php"/> Across the country, the storm killed 11&nbsp;people.<ref name="adrc">{{cite report|url=http://www.adrc.asia/publications/databook/ORG/databook_20th/PHL.pdf|type=Dataset|page=12|title=Top 25 Natural Disasters in Philippines According to Number of Killed (1901–2000)|location=Kobe, Japan|publisher=Asian Disaster Reduction Center|date=2003|access-date=April 5, 2015}}</ref> The typhoon destroyed 393&nbsp;houses and damaged another 145,<ref name="php"/> leaving 1,965&nbsp;people homeless.<ref name="adrc"/> Damage was estimated at ₱903&nbsp;million ($35.4&nbsp;million),{{#tag:ref|The total was originally reported in [[Philippine pesos]]. Total converted via the footnoted site.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.x-rates.com/historical/?from=PHP&amount=1&date=2017-10-28|publisher=x-rates.com|title=Historical exchange rates|access-date=October 28, 2017}}</ref>|group="nb"}} much of it to agriculture.<ref name="php">{{cite web|publisher=National Disaster Coordinating Council|date=November 9, 2004|access-date=April 5, 2015|title=Destructive Typhoons 1970-2003|url=http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=/miso/typhoons&range=120,20|at=entries 121–140|type=Dataset|location=Quezon City, Philippines}}</ref>

After its destructive landfall in Guam, Omar struck [[Wuqi District]] in Taiwan with maximum winds of 78&nbsp;km/h (49&nbsp;mph).<ref name=atcr /><ref name="sum">{{cite report|publisher=Central Weather Bureau|location=Taipei, Taiwan|work=Typhoon Data Bank|language=zh|title=本颱風摘要|date=August 5, 2011|access-date=April 6, 2015|url=http://photino.cwb.gov.tw/tyweb/tyfnweb/htm/explanation-1992omar.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411165952/http://photino.cwb.gov.tw/tyweb/tyfnweb/htm/explanation-1992omar.htm|archive-date=April 11, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The worst effects in the country were from widespread rain; the strongest rainfall rates remained concentrated in southern regions, peaking at {{convert|375.4|mm|in|abbr=on}} in [[Kaohsiung]].<ref name="cwb"/><ref name="sum" /> The storm flooded five [[County (Taiwan)|counties]] and left 766,000&nbsp;people without power. High waves washed ashore four ships in Kaohsiung,<ref name=HKO/> and farmland and fisheries there, as well as in [[Yunlin County|Yunlin]], [[Chiayi City]], and [[Pingtung County]], suffered heavy damage.<ref name="cwb"/> Throughout Taiwan, Omar resulted in three deaths (two of which drownings), twelve injuries, and more than $65 million (USD) in damage.<ref name=atcr /><ref name="sum"/>

The fringes of the typhoon dropped light rainfall in the outer regions of [[Japan]], peaking at {{convert|28|mm|in|abbr=on}} on [[Iriomote-jima]]. The highest wind gust was 72&nbsp;km/h (45&nbsp;mph) on [[Yonaguni]].<ref>{{cite report|work=Digital Typhoon|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|location=Tokyo, Japan|date=n.d.|title=Typhoon 199215 (Omar)|access-date=April 1, 2015|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/dsummary.pl?id=199215&basin=wnp&lang=en}}</ref> Omar damaged the sugar cane and okra in the southern Japanese islands, leading to crop losses of ¥476&nbsp;million [[Japanese Yen|JPY]] (US$3.8&nbsp;million).{{#tag:ref|The total was originally reported in [[Japanese yen]]. Total converted via the [[Oanda Corporation]] website.<ref name="oanda">{{cite web|publisher=Oanda Corporation|date=n.d.|title=Historical Exchange Rates|access-date=October 18, 2013|url=http://www.oanda.com/currency/historical-rates|type=Database|location=Toronto, Canada|archive-date=February 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202154335/http://www.oanda.com/currency/historical-rates|url-status=dead}}</ref>|group="nb"|name="jpy"}} In addition, traffic was disrupted and 38&nbsp;flights were canceled.<ref>{{cite report|work=Digital Typhoon|publisher=National Institute of Informatics|location=Tokyo, Japan|language=ja|title=Weather Disaster Report (1992-918-05)|access-date=April 1, 2015|url=http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/cgi-bin/dt/report.pl?id=1992-918-05&lang=en}}</ref> Later, Omar spread rainfall along its path through southern China, flooding parts of northwestern [[Hong Kong]] on September&nbsp;7.<ref name=atcr /><ref name=HKO/>

== Aftermath ==
[[File:USS White Plains (AFS-4) aground at Polaris Point, Apra Harbor, Guam (USA), 30 August 1992 (6484520).jpg|right|thumb|A U.S. Navy harbor tug pushing {{USS|White Plains|AFS-4}} back out to sea at Polaris Point, Apra Harbor, Guam on 30 August after the ship was grounded due to the typhoon.|alt=Black and white image depicting a ship being tugged back out to sea.]]
Immediately after Omar's landfall in Guam, former Governor [[Joseph Franklin Ada]] declared a state of emergency,<ref>{{cite news|title=Typhoon Omar devastates Guam|newspaper=The Spokesman-Review|page=A3|volume=6|issue=95|edition=State|location=Spokane, Washington|date=August 29, 1992|access-date=April 3, 2015|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19920829&id=JHUzAAAAIBAJ&pg=4808,6389574&hl=en}}</ref> and former U.S. President [[George H. W. Bush]] declared the island a federal [[disaster area]].<ref name=GuamDisaster>{{cite news|title=Bush declares Guam federal disaster area|agency=United Press International|date=August 28, 1992|location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref> In the wake of the storm, several people were arrested for looting.<ref name="ap829">{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|date=August 29, 1992|newspaper=TimesDaily|location=Florence, Alabama|access-date=April 1, 2014|title=Guam hit hard by Typhoon Omar|page=7A|volume=123|issue=242|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=19920829&id=4EoeAAAAIBAJ&pg=4699,4198917&hl=en}}</ref> The [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] opened up disaster assistance centers where residents were able to apply for federal aid; it ultimately provided about $18.4&nbsp;million in assistance, including disaster housing, storm-related unemployment benefits, and grant programs for families or businesses,<ref name="weri"/> helping over 11,000&nbsp;people.<ref name="ap920"/> The federal government paid for 100% of the debris removal, emergency work, and reconstruction of uninsured public buildings, although it usually only provides 75% of the cost for typical disasters. This was due to the sequence of three significant tropical cyclones affecting the United States in three weeks; in addition to Omar, [[Hurricane Andrew]] struck Florida in August and [[Hurricane Iniki]] hit Hawaii in September. The Department of Defense assisted the affected areas with 27&nbsp;members of the [[Guam National Guard]] and 700&nbsp;members of the military. The military provided temporary housing, generators, and construction supplies, at a cost of $5.75&nbsp;million, though most of the disaster needs were handled by the government.<ref name="dod">{{cite report|date=June 23, 1993|url=http://www.gao.gov/assets/220/217920.pdf|location=Washington, D.C.|title=Disaster Assistance: DOD's Support for Hurricanes Andrew and Iniki and Typhoon Omar. Report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on Readiness, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives|publisher=United States General Accounting Office|access-date=April 1, 2015|docket=GAO/NSIAD-93-180}}</ref> The local [[American Red Cross|Red Cross]] provided $6&nbsp;million in assistance after the storm.<ref name="weri"/> Due to the combined damages from Andrew, Iniki, and Omar, the [[United States Congress]] passed the Dire Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1992, which provided additional funding for the agencies responding to the disasters through the fiscal year ending on September&nbsp;30.<ref>{{cite act |act-type=Bill |index=H.R. 5620 |orig-section= Title II: Department of Defense – Military |legislature=[[102nd United States Congress|102nd Congress (1991–1992)]] |jurisdiction=United States |title=Dire Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1992, Including Disaster Assistance To Meet the Present Emergencies Arising From the Consequences of Hurricane Andrew, Typhoon Omar, Hurricane Iniki, and Other Natural Disasters, and Additional Assistance to Distressed Communities |year=1992 |reporter=Pub. L. |volume=102-368 |location=Washington, D.C.|access-date=April 3, 2015|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/102/hr5620/text}}</ref>

For 11&nbsp;days, the JTWC on Guam was unable to continue operations, relying on a backup agency. The damage to the airport radar prompted the [[NEXRAD]]&mdash;a network of high-resolution weather radars&mdash;to be installed earlier than scheduled, in February 1993,<ref name=atcr /> and limited incoming and outgoing flights to the daytime.<ref name="ap831">{{cite news|newspaper=The Prescott Courier|location=Prescott, Arizona|agency=Associated Press|date=August 31, 1992|title=Guam typhoon mop up begins|page=2A|volume=110|issue=200|access-date=April 3, 2015|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=886&dat=19920831&id=6KU0AAAAIBAJ&pg=4277,7321777&hl=en}}</ref> On August&nbsp;30, a naval ship docked at Apra Harbor to provide a temporary mobile radar. By September&nbsp;15, both ships that had been washed ashore were refloated.<ref name="navy"/> In the aftermath of the destruction, insurance companies decided to stop issuing new policies for structures not made of concrete.<ref name="weri">{{cite report|date=1999|title=Typhoon Vulnerability Study for Guam|first1=Charles|last1=Guard|first2=Michael|last2=Hamnett|first3=Charles|last3=Newmann|first4=Mark|last4=Lander|first5=H. Galt Jr.|last5=Siegrist|location=Mangilao, Guam|publisher=Water and Environmental Research Institute of the Western Pacific|access-date=April 2, 2015|url=http://www.weriguam.org/docs/reports/85_8.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024010432/http://www.weriguam.org/docs/reports/85_8.pdf|archive-date=October 24, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> In January 1996, former Governor [[Carl Gutierrez]] issued an executive order, mandating that homes or [[hurricane shutter|storm shutters]] on the island withstand winds of at least 250&nbsp;m/h (155&nbsp;mph).<ref>{{cite report|first=Carl|last=Gutierrez|title=Executive Order No. 96-01|publisher=Officer of the Governor of the Territory of Guam|date=January 11, 1996|access-date=April 2, 2015|url=http://documents.guam.gov/wp-content/uploads/E.O.-96-01-Relative-to-Establishing-A-Minimum-Basic-Windloa.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922140928/http://documents.guam.gov/wp-content/uploads/E.O.-96-01-Relative-to-Establishing-A-Minimum-Basic-Windloa.pdf|archive-date=September 22, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The citizens left homeless by Omar resided in a [[tent city]] nicknamed Camp Omar, consisting of 200&nbsp;tents holding more than 1,000&nbsp;people.<ref name=atcr /><ref name="ap920">{{cite news|newspaper=Star-News|agency=Associated Press|date=September 20, 1992|title=A month after Typhoon Omar, residents of Guam rebuilding|access-date=April 3, 2015|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19920930&id=qohOAAAAIBAJ&pg=1272,5524785&hl=en|location=Wilmington, North Carolina|volume=125|issue=302|page=8A}}</ref> Volunteers and military efforts cleaned most of the debris on the island within a few weeks.<ref name=atcr /> Many important roads were reopened by three days after the storm.<ref name="ap831"/> The power took four weeks to be restored island-wide, disrupting schools and businesses,<ref name="grieger">{{cite journal|title=Acute stress disorder, subsequent posttraumatic stress disorder and depression after a series of typhoons|doi=10.1002/(SICI)1522-7154(1996)2:5<219::AID-ANXI3>3.0.CO;2-H |pmid=9160626|journal=Anxiety|volume=2|issue=5|year=1996|pages=219–225|first1=Jeffrey P.|last1=Staab|first2=Thomas A.|last2=Grieger|first3=Carol S.|last3=Fullerton|first4=Robert J.|last4=Ursano}}</ref> although water access was expected to be restored within a few days of the storm.<ref name="ap831"/> Schools reopened on September&nbsp;14,<ref name="navy"/> and most businesses resumed their work by the end of the month.<ref name="ap920"/> The United States military ceased relief operations on September&nbsp;19,<ref name="navy"/> though complete recovery was disrupted by the passage of several subsequent typhoons. These storms caused less damage than normal after Omar wrecked the more vulnerable structures. As a result, it became difficult to discern the damage between Omar and [[Typhoon Gay (1992)|Typhoon Gay]] in December 1992.<ref name="ncdc"/> A 1993 study in the medical journal ''[[Depression and Anxiety|Anxiety]]'' found that 7.2% of 320&nbsp;participants affected by Omar developed [[acute stress reaction]], and another 15% developed early traumatic stress response, especially those affected by the later typhoons. About 5.9% of the participants displayed symptoms of [[posttraumatic stress disorder]], similar to the levels shown after [[Hurricane Hugo]] in 1989.<ref name="grieger"/>

Due to the destruction in Guam, the name ''Omar'' was retired and was replaced with ''Oscar'' in 1993.<ref name=atcr /><ref name=TCRR>{{cite journal|first1=Xiaotu|last1=Lei|first2=Xiao|last2=Zhou|journal=Tropical Cyclone Research and Review|volume=1|issue=1|doi=10.6057/2012TCRR01.03|date=February 2012|title=Summary of retired typhoons within the western North Pacific Ocean|pages=23–32|bibcode=2012TCRR....1...23L |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2225603218300122 }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}
*[[Typhoon Rita (1978)]]
*[[Typhoon Andy (1982)]]
*[[Typhoon Herb]] (1996)
*[[Typhoon Mawar]] (2023)

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{Digital Typhoon|199215|OMAR}}
* {{YouTube|id=J1GtQr7eL-k|title=Video of the typhoon during its landfall in Guam by Jim Leonard}}
{{Retired Pacific typhoons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Omar (1992)}}
[[Category:Retired Pacific typhoons]]
[[Category:1992 Pacific typhoon season]]
[[Category:Typhoons in Guam]]
[[Category:Typhoons in Taiwan]]
[[Category:Typhoons in China]]
[[Category:Typhoons in the Philippines]]
[[Category:1992 disasters in China|Typhoon Omar]]
[[Category:1992 disasters in the Philippines|Typhoon Omar]]