 After the storm had moved through the region on December 2 , officials began allowing evacuees to return home on December 3 . The same day , all airports and roads were re @-@ opened ; however , some roads on Koror remained impassable due to damage from storm surge . Additionally , electricity shut off prior to the storm was restored on Koror . On December 5 , the President of Palau declared a state of emergency and US $ 10 million was authorized by congress for relief efforts . The Palau Red Cross Society began distributing clean @-@ up kits and communal tools in the eastern states of Melekeok , Ngaraard , and Ngiwal by December 7 . Further distributions on the southern islands of Anguar and Peleliu began the following day . A week after the typhoon 's passage , damage assessments across Palau had been completed and authorities had begun a large @-@ scale reconstruction of damaged properties . The operation , known as the Bopha Catastrophe Relief Committee , was being coordinated by Dr. Patrick Tellei , president of Palau Community College . The committee planned to build 30 homes across the republic : 10 in Ngaraard and 5 each in Angaur , Melekeok , Ngiwal , and Peleliu . By December 12 , telecommunications and water supplies were 95 percent restored while power had been brought back to 90 percent of capacity . Although water had been restored to most areas by December 13 , residents were advised to continue boiling water , especially in more populated locales until further notice . Schools resumed classes on December 17 across the republic ; however , several institutions were either temporarily relocated or had half days due to damage from the storm . On December 23 , the Government of Palau announced that , " in the holiday spirit " , December 24 and 31 would be declared national holidays for 2012 in light of the typhoon . In some areas , residents burned vegetative debris left behind by the storm . 
