Guam remains in Condition of Readiness (COR) 1. The island continues to experience prolonged weather effects, including passing rain bands and damaging winds with strong gusts up to 50-55 mph. which are expected to persist through late this morning.
Hazardous marine conditions continue to affect Guam. High seas and powerful wave action are impacting coastal areas, including sections of Marine Corps Drive and other roadways near the shoreline. Motorists are urged to exercise caution, watch for water overwash and debris, and avoid unnecessary travel along coastal routes. Residents are encouraged to remain alert, follow official guidance, and stay clear of shoreline areas until conditions improve.
To ensure public safety and allow emergency responders to conduct essential assessments, residents must remain indoors and off the roads until the island transitions to COR 4.
Stay out of the water; conditions are life threatening. Dangerous sea conditions are expected to last until the end of the week.
Portion of Marine Corps Drive Closed for Safety
The Guam Police Department (GPD) has reported that a portion of Route 1 Marine Corps Drive from Alupang Beach Tower in East Hagatna to House of Chin Fee in Anigua is closed to allow the Department of Public Works (DPW) to clear debris and restore safe access. For the safety of all, motorists are advised to seek alternate routes. An update will be provided once available.
GWA Update:
Guam Waterworks Authority (GWA) is aware of outages throughout the island as a result of the super typhoon. Low to no water pressure service has been reported in parts of Barrigada, Dededo, Maite, Mangilao, Sinajana, Upper Tumon, Yigo and Yona. GWA personnel continue performing facility assessments at water and wastewater treatment plants, sewer lift stations, booster pumps, reservoirs and wells.
High producing wells HGC-2, NAS-1 and M-17B were placed back online late yesterday evening. Production from these wells is expected to improve or restore pressure to parts of Yigo, Tiyan, Barrigada and Mangilao.
As of 7 a.m., 77 wells are online, with one (1) well on the island-wide power system, and 76 wells on standby power generation. The Ugum Surface Water Treatment Plant (USWTP) remains online as turbidity levels in the Ugum River maintain regulatory treatment limits. While USWTP is producing water on standby power generation, plant personnel are performing periodic maintenance to limit silt and debris from entering the river pumps. Periodic maintenance will require the plant to be placed offline temporarily.
The Guam Power Authority (GPA) continues working closely with GWA to restore power to wells impacted by the storm. As more of the island-wide power system is restored, more wells will be placed back online. Fuel delivery to wells operating on standby generators is ongoing.
The Agat-Santa Rita Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is now operating with secondary treatment on standby generator power. The Northern District WWTP is without power but partial treatment is occurring. No reports of backups or sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) have been reported to GWA at this time.
GWA Water Tankers and Flextanker Updates:
GWA’s priority is restoring water service to critical care facilities, focusing specifically on dialysis centers currently experiencing outages. Additionally, GWA has deployed water tankers and flextankers to provide water to residents sheltering at Astumbo Elementary School and George Washington High School.
A 6,000-gallon water tanker has been deployed to the Yigo gym. More tankers and flextankers are being prepared for deployment. GWA’s supply vendor will begin delivery of the trailer chassis and container boxes to GWA as soon as the island is declared to be in Condition of Readiness 4 (COR4). As flextankers are staged, official notification will be sent to the public. Upon GWA’s scheduled delivery of trailer chassis and container boxes, flextankers will begin to be deployed in the following areas:
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Astumbo Senior Center, Dededo
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Along Chalan Koda, Dededo
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Dededo Mayor’s Office
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Ironwood Subdivision, Dededo
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Mataguac, Yigo
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Chalan La Chance, Yigo
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Gayinero Road, Yigo
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Mangilao Church
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Open field adjacent to the Yona Carabao, Yona
Residents are advised to bring their own containers to store and haul water from the flextanker sites.
School Update:
All Guam Department of Education (GDOE) schools are closed today as the island is currently under COR 1. Schools will remain closed even after the Governor declares COR 4 until GDOE has completed all necessary inspections and cleaning to ensure campuses are safe to reopen. Families with DODEA school students should seek guidance from their military officials.
Catholic schools will also remain closed while Guam is at COR 1. As with our public schools, these organizations are scheduled to re-open when COR 4 is declared and after determinations are made that individual campuses are safe for students and staff.
The University of Guam (UOG) and Guam Community College (GCC), remain closed during COR 1. Upon declaration of COR 4, each will conduct their own assessment and make independent announcements regarding their respective opening plans.
If your school is not listed above, please check directly with them.
GWA Urges Water Conservation
As GWA personnel work to restore reservoir levels and system pressure, the community is advised to practice strict water conservation during recovery efforts. Refrain from washing vehicles and pressure washing or flushing driveways and sidewalks and limit water use in the kitchen and bathroom. Non-essential water usage may place unnecessary stress on pressure within the water distribution system. Additionally, there may be an increased risk of backups and sewer overflows if wastewater pump and plant operations are affected by the storm – reducing proper collection of wastewater from customers connected to GWA’s sewer.
Customers are urged to contact GWA dispatch by calling 671-646-4211 or emailing dispatch@guamwaterworks.org to report any water issues like low to no water pressure, and wastewater issues like backups and SSOs. GWA crews will respond to reports as soon as weather conditions permit.
For information, contact GWA’s 24/7 phone line at (671) 646-4211 or go to www.facebook.com/guamwaterworksauthority.
Visit the following links for the latest information:
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NWS Website: https://www.weather.gov/gum/
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NWS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NWSGuam/
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GHS/OCD Website: https://ghs.guam.gov/
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GHS/OCD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHSOCD/
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JRM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jrmguam
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JTF-M Facebook: https:www.facebook.com/1CdEchVcDs/
The GBHWC Suicide & Crisis Lifeline remains operational 24/7. The community may call or text the hotline at 988, or chat online at 988lifeline.org.
For more information, contact the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10.