Enhancing Cybersecurity Partnerships

Earlier this year, Guam was named as one of the National Governors Association (NGA) seven selected states and territories to work on strategies to enhance nationwide cybersecurity. In line with this effort, the Office of the Governor, Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) and the Mariana Regional Fusion Center (MRFC), worked with the NGA to host the Policy Academy on Cybersecurity for Guam workshop on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at the Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort.

The NGA led workshop enhanced Guam’s cybersecurity capabilities by bringing together stakeholders responsible for the safety and security of the island. As part of the workshop John Guerriero, NGA Policy Analyst, discussed the National cybersecurity landscape, facilitated discussions about conducting risk assessments for cyber vulnerabilities, establishing enterprise-wide cybersecurity services, cyber disruption response planning for critical infrastructure, and opportunities to partner with all stakeholders to advance Guam’s cybersecurity initiative.

Attendees for the workshop included information technology (IT) personnel from the government of Guam, GovGuam finance, Guam National Guard, critical infrastructure, utilities, law enforcement, public safety, and federal partners.

“State cybersecurity is not just an IT problem,” said Tim Aguon, Homeland Security Advisor. “Cybersecurity is all-encompassing and requires an island-wide approach. With the support of the Leon Guerrero/Tenorio Administration and all the stakeholders, we were able to understand our current cyber posture and finalize ways to improve the cyber hygiene for the government of Guam and the island as a whole.”

For more information, contact GHS/OCD Public Information Officer, Jenna G. Blas at (671) 489-2540 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

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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.