JIC Recovery Release No. 111 - GUAM STRONG: New Project Helps Make Disaster Damaged Homes Safe and Secure - GHS OCD

A new project, a coordinated effort between Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense, the Mayors’ Council, and FEMA has been approved to help households impacted by Typhoon Mawar. The initiative, Getting Urgent Assistance Mobilized to Support Typhoon Repairs ON Guam (GUAM STRONG) provides minimal essential repairs to make homes safe, sanitary and functional.

Participants have been pre-selected through a review process based on a pre-identified need. This process prioritized the elderly, veterans and those with access and functional needs. There is no application process and those chosen will be contacted directly about their participation in the GUAM STRONG program.

The aim is to restore disaster damaged homes to a habitable condition in a cost-effective manner, so households have shelter until more permanent repairs can be completed. GUAM STRONG may help with basic carpentry, electrical, and plumbing repairs in addition to roofing.

Each home identified as eligible for the GUAM STRONG project must be able to be made functional through repairs costing no more than $10,000.

The driving force of GUAM STRONG is the skilled volunteers from nonprofit partners such as members of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) that will come to Guam and perform repair work on eligible homes. FEMA will be responsible for sourcing the tools and necessary building materials.

One hundred twenty-five homes are projected to be completed by November 25, 2023, based on the level of support committed by the volunteer agencies.

The project is scheduled to commence operations and has begun deploying volunteers with the goal of completing as many repairs as possible by November 25. This timeline aligns with the 6-month deadline for the completion of emergency work.

Visit the following links for the latest information:

Governor’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/govlouguam
GHS/OCD Website: https://ghs.guam.gov/
GHS/OCD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHSOCD/

For more information, contact the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10.

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.

JIC Recovery Release No. 111 - GUAM STRONG: New Project Helps Make Disaster Damaged Homes Safe and Secure