Community Invited to Participate in the Great Guam ShakeOut

Next month, Guam will take part in the world’s largest earthquake drill, the Great ShakeOut. On Thursday, October 18, 2018 at exactly 10:18 a.m. (ChST), participants will practice the earthquake response procedure; “Drop, Cover and Hold On” as advised by the Great ShakeOut organization. The drill will last for one minute.

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) encourage all residents to increase earthquake preparedness and response by practicing how to protect themselves during an earthquake and how to ensure an earthquake disaster does not become a catastrophe. The ShakeOut participation provides the opportunity to evaluate emergency plans, increase awareness of earthquake safety, and improve resiliency within your community.

“It is our goal to one day have everyone on the island participate in the Great Guam ShakeOut,” stated Charles Esteves, Office of Civil Defense Administrator. “Earthquakes happen without warning. Practicing your earthquake drills now is a helpful way to prepare for when a real one does happen. Along with the drill, have open discussions with family, coworkers, and friends to review earthquake procedures and plans. Your participation brings the island one step closer to meeting our island’s preparedness goals.”

In 2017, over 90K residents from Guam registered to participate. To participate in this year’s ShakeOut, residents must register online at http://www.shakeout.org/guam/ or call (671) 475-9600. The ShakeOut website provides drill manuals, tips on earthquake safety and other resources for developing a disaster plan. Residents may register as an individual, family, school, business, or other group and are encouraged to share photos of their ShakeOut experience on the Great Guam ShakeOut website.

Island residents will join over 20 million ShakeOut participants from across the U.S., Hawaii, British Columbia, CNMI, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, Southern Italy, and other various regions.

For more information, contact Public Information Officer, Jenna G. Blas at (671) 478-0208 or via email at jenna.g.blas@ghs.guam.gov.

X Flooding is a temporary overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. Flooding may happen with only a few inches of water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. There are many possible causes of floods including heavy rain, coastal storms and storm surge, waterway overflow from being blocked with debris, or overflow of levees, dams, or waste water systems. Flooding can occur slowly over many days or happen very quickly with little or no warning, called flash floods.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/floods

Wildfire

Regularly clean the roof and gutters.
Maintain an area approximately 30’ away from you home that is free of anything that will burn, such as wood piles, dried leaves, newspapers and other brush.
Connect garden hoses long enough to reach any area of the home and fill garbage cans, tubs, or other large containers with water.
Review your homeowner's insurance policy and also prepare/update a list of your home's contents.

Fire Weather

Turn on your TV/radio. You’ll get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
Know where to go. If you are ordered to evacuate, know the route to take and have plan of where you will go. Check-in with your friends and family.
Keep your car fueled, in good condition, and stocked with emergency supplies and a change of clothes.

Drought

Conserve water

Take shorter showers.

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Run the washer less frequently and only when you have a full load.
Water your lawn less frequently and do so when the temperature is cooler in the early morning or late evening.
When you run the tap to heat or cool water, keep a pitcher to store the water and use it to water plants.
Avoid washing your car.

Practice fire prevention

Don't set off fireworks when conditions are dry.
Deposit cigarette butts in the proper receptacle to avoid starting a
Pour water over camp fires and backyard fire pits to ensure they are completely out before leaving them unattended.

Follow directions from local officials. If there are restrictions on water usage, be sure to heed them.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/wildfires and https://www.ready.gov/drought

X
Typhoons/Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over the water and move toward land. Threats from typhoons/hurricanes include high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, and rip currents.

“Hurricanes” form in the Atlantic Northeast Pacific region and “Typhoons” form in the Northwest Pacific Region. These large storms are call cyclones in other parts of the world.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.