JIC Release No. 5 - Guam in COR 2; School Updates; Shelter Information will be Provided Tomorrow; Guam Legislature Closed; Judicial Court Closed; GSWA Update; Healthcare Updates - GHS OCD

Governor Lou Leon Guerrero has placed Guam in Condition of Readiness (COR) 2 at 8 p.m. this evening. At COR2, the Government of Guam, with the exception of essential services, will not be operational and will remain closed until COR 4 is announced.

Joint Region Marianas (JRM), Naval Base Guam (NBG), Andersen Air Force Base (AAFB), and Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz (MCBCB) are also in Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness (TCCOR) 2 at 8 p.m. this evening. The Department of Defense (DoD) has delayed implementing some of the TCCOR2 actions until Tuesday, May 23, to minimize impact to installation services (Child Development Center, Exchange, Commissary, etc.). For installation-specific operations or questions, please consult the respective installation Facebook pages or reach out to the Public Affairs Officer.

As of 5 p.m., Tropical Storm Mawar was located 7.4 degrees north latitude and 148.1 degrees east longitude, about 255 miles west of Chuuk, 475 miles south-southeast of Guam, and 555 miles south-southeast of Saipan. It is moving north at 8 mph with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph.

A typhoon watch remains in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan. A typhoon watch means that typhoon conditions are possible, with tropical storm force (sustained winds of 39 mph and greater) conditions arriving within the next 48 hours. There is an increasing likelihood for tropical storm to typhoon force impacts around midweek. The anticipated timing is expected between late Tuesday to early Thursday. Heavy rainfall is likely much of this week, with 9 to 15 inches remaining a possibility through the end of this week.

School Updates:

The Guam Department of Education (GDOE) Central Office operations and school sites will be closed:
- There are no GDOE classes Monday, May 22. GDOE schools that have been identified as emergency shelters will be operational for shelter by 5 p.m. Monday.
- The Guam Education Board Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 23 has been RESCHEDULED to Tuesday, May 30, 5 p.m.
DoDEA schools will remain OPEN on Monday, May 22.
The Archdiocese of Agana, Catholic School classes have been canceled for Monday, May 22, and the Catholic schools will remain closed until COR 4 is announced.
The University of Guam will be closed Monday, May 22, and will not be open until COR 4 is announced.
The Guam Community College will be closed Monday, May 22, and will not be open until COR 4 is announced.

Shelter Information will be Provided Tomorrow:
The GDOE is preparing to open certain emergency shelters at 5 p.m. on Monday, May 22. More information regarding locations, rules and regulations will be provided tomorrow morning. Emergency shelters will NOT be open until tomorrow. Do not attempt to go to any emergency shelter until the designated opening time.

Guam Legislature Operations Closed Tomorrow:
Upon declaration of COR 2, the Guam Legislature will be closed for public services until COR 4 is restored.

Judicial Court Closed Tomorrow:
The Judiciary of Guam announced the closure of the Judicial Branch upon declaration of COR 2 this evening, until the declaration of COR 4 by the Governor of Guam. All hearings, jury trials, jury selections, and grand jury proceedings will be rescheduled.

GSWA Update:
The Guam Solid Waste Authority (GSWA) will continue operations with trash pick up tomorrow, May 22. Assessments will be made after tomorrow and an update on GSWA operations for the remainder of the week will be provided.

United Flights Operational Tomorrow:
United flights will operate as scheduled on Monday, May 22, 2023, and the United City Ticket Office will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. United customers who are scheduled to depart May 23 and May 24 are encouraged to check united.com or the United app for the most current flight information as a result of Tropical Storm Mawar.

Correction to Guam Memorial Hospital Authority Update:
On Monday afternoon, May 22, 2023, Guam Memorial Hospital Authority (GMHA) will announce the time that pregnant mothers may begin coming to the hospital.

When that time is announced, GMHA will begin receiving pregnant mothers who are thirty-six (36) weeks or more along and all high-risk pregnant mothers who are twenty-four (24) weeks or more in their pregnancy.

Correction to GRMC Update:
The Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) will maintain regular operating and visiting hours until 8:00 pm on Monday, May 22, 2023. Should weather conditions worsen within 24 hours after the announcement of Condition of Readiness (COR) 2, GRMC will then announce the suspension of visiting hours.

The GRMC Lung and Infectious Diseases (GLID) Clinic has converted physical appointments to Telehealth until further notice. All other outpatient appointments and elective surgeries scheduled on Monday, May 22, 2023, will be contacted for rescheduling accordingly.

During suspension, all visitors, except patient watchers, will be asked to leave the hospital.

All admitted patients may have one (1) patient watcher. Patient watchers must obtain an approved emergency patient watcher badge from Customer Relations in the Main Lobby. Note, patient watchers are encouraged to bring food (that does not require refrigeration) for the duration of the storm. Meals will only be provided to patients.

For more information, contact GRMC’s Marketing & Communications Department at (671) 687-5572 or (671) 971-1347 or via email at marketing.mailbox@grmc.gu.

What should you do:
The community is advised to finish the following preparedness actions by tomorrow:

Stay up to date – monitor local news, National Weather Service and the Joint Information Center;
Put up shutters. Do not wait for winds to increase by Tuesday;
Clear loose debris around your yard and store any items that may become airborne with heavy winds such as canopies, tarps and trampolines, before inclement weather arrives;
Keep emergency preparedness kits readily available, with battery operated radio, flashlights and extra batteries;
Secure important documents such as birth certificates, tax papers, and insurance documents and keep copies in a water-proof bag;
Unplug all appliances and ensure energy breakers are switched off once damaging winds approach;
If you live in an area prone to flooding, cover beds and furniture with plastic to prevent water damage;
Ensure pets are part of your emergency plans (i.e. have enough supplies, bring them indoors, plan to keep them with a loved one or family member);
Do not camp, park, or hike along streams, rivers, and creeks. These areas can flood quickly and with little warning;
Gas your vehicles and get fuel for your generators now while the weather is clear;
When you’re done securing your homes and you know someone elderly, living with a disability, or who will otherwise need help, please see how you can help them. If you know a neighbor or family member who has no way of getting information about the storm, please let them know the updates.

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/
JRM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jrmguam

> View the NWS Forecast Track - May 21, 1PM

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. 5 - Guam in COR 2; School Updates; Shelter Information will be Provided Tomorrow; Guam Legislature Closed; Judicial Court Closed; GSWA Update; Healthcare Updates