GHS/OCD Distributes Signs for Neighborhood Watch Program

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) recently acquired fifty-seven (57) signs for Guam’s Neighborhood Watch Program (NWP).

To commemorate the additional signs, GHS/OCD and the Guam Police Department will hold a hand-off ceremony on Tuesday, November 26, 2019 at 3:30 p.m. at the Ricardo J. Bordallo Governor’s Complex where Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and Lieutenant Governor Josh Tenorio will recognize the hand-off to the Mayors’ Council of Guam and the Neighborhood Watch area commanders.

The signs were purchased by GHS/OCD for the NWP and are 100% federally funded under the Citizen Corps program through the Emergency Management Performance Grant Program and the Homeland Security Grant Program. The Citizen Corps program mission is to harness the power of every individual through education, training, and volunteer service to make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to the threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues, and disasters of all kind. The investment of additional signs allows for more visibility of the NWP throughout respective villages.

“We are grateful for the partnerships with the administration, the Guam Police Department and the Mayors’ Council of Guam to help augment resources for public safety,” said Tim Aguon, Homeland Security Advisor. “While the public safety officials and law enforcement officers continue efforts on their end, we ask the community to embrace the personal responsibility of preparedness by actively engaging with your Neighborhood Watch programs and continuing to report suspicious activity following the Department of Homeland Security’s nationwide campaign – ‘If you see something, say something’.”

For more information on the Citizen Corps program, contact GHS/OCD Whole Community Preparedness Program Manager, Jaimie Cruz at (671) 475-9600 or via email at jaimie.cruz@ghs.guam.gov.

For media inquiries, 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

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.