JIC Release No. 1 - Guam in COR 3 - GHS OCD

As a precautionary measure, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero has placed Guam in Condition of Readiness (COR) 3 at 1 p.m. this afternoon. At COR 3, damaging winds of 39-57 mph are expected within 48 hours.

On its current track, the system is expected to pass south through the Marianas about 40 miles north of Saipan around midnight tonight. The closest point of approach to Guam is forecast around late Monday evening, early Tuesday morning about 190 miles away from Guam. The onset of damaging winds of 39 mph or more are expected late Monday night and to last through Tuesday morning. Rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches is possible through Tuesday. Hazardous seas are expected.

As of 11 a.m., Typhoon Hagibis was located near 15.1 degrees north latitude and 149.5 degrees east longitude 151.7, about 250 miles east of Saipan and 340 miles east-northeast of Guam. Hagibis is moving west at 18 mph with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph.

“While Typhoon Hagibis is tracking north of Guam, hazardous conditions, such as heavy winds and rains, could be damaging even devastating. We want to declare COR3 early to ensure our people have enough time to prepare themselves and their families,” said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero.

Coordination Efforts Underway
The Emergency Operations Center and the Joint Information Center at the Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense have been partially activated to support coordination and communication efforts.

The Department of Public Works and the Mayors Council of Guam continue efforts to pre-stage equipment in order to minimize flooding in flood prone areas.

Shelters
The Department of Education has identified schools in the north, central, and south that will be utilized as emergency shelters. More information regarding locations and opening of emergency shelters will be provided in an upcoming release.

Visit the following links for the latest advisory information:

· NWS Website: https://www.weather.gov/gum/

· NWS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NWSGuam/

· 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 Release No. 1 - Guam in COR 3