Local Emergency Management Executive Selected for FEMA Executive Leadership Program

A local emergency management executive was selected for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Vanguard Executive Crisis Leaders Fellowship.

Charles Esteves, Administrator for the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), was one of 26 senior crisis leaders chosen for FEMA’s executive leadership cohort focused on disruptive changes in emergency management and crisis leadership.

FEMA Vanguard’s cohort represents some of the most influential and experienced minds in crisis leadership, including state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency management directors, corporate executives, philanthropic leaders, elected officials, academics, policymakers, and other emergency management executives. Developed by FEMA in partnership with the RAND Corporation and McChrystal Group, the program is designed to establish the relationships needed to innovate, prepare, and respond to future crises more effectively.

Charles has been the OCD Administrator and the emergency management director for the territory since 2015. He was appointed the Territorial Coordinating Officer through four Presidential major disaster declarations and three emergency declarations.

“I am honored to be selected, and I look forward to interacting with and learning from such a diverse representation of multi-jurisdictional, multi-disciplined leaders,” said Charles Esteves, Civil Defense Administrator. “I look forward to sharing and using the knowledge to enhance preparedness and increase resiliency across the island.”

Applicants undergo a rigorous application process that assesses their experience leading through crises and their potential to influence change in emergency management. This is the only course at FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute that requires applicants to apply directly to the Superintendent.

The two-week cohort is held at rotating sites across the U.S., allowing selectees to meet with leading experts in crisis leadership nationwide. The executives are also invited to engage with the National Security Council, Congressional representatives, Department of Homeland Security leadership, the FEMA Administrator, and former FEMA Administrators.

Fellows participate in roundtable discussions with top experts and peers, seminars, site visits with crisis leadership experts, and small-group sessions to discuss and debate issues, all with the goal of improving federal, state, local, tribal, and industry preparedness.

FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute supports the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA by improving competencies and collaboration among U.S. Emergency Management professionals at all levels to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the potential effects of disasters and emergencies in service of a more resilient Nation.

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense’s mission is to coordinate and facilitate all government, military, and federal liaison response agencies and their resources in mitigating, preparing, responding to, and recovering from any and all types of emergencies to protect the lives, environment, and property of the island of Guam.

For more information, contact GHS/OCD Public Information Officer Jenna G. Blas at (671) 478-0208 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.