Guam Homeland Security - Office of Civil Defense

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.

Virtual Training Opportunities Available Hosted by CISA and New Mexico Tech

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) announce multiple virtual training opportunities hosted by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) and New Mexico Tech. The online courses follow:

Thursday, May 29, 5 a.m. – 7 a.m. (ChST): CISA Active Shooter Preparedness Webinar (This is not a tactical training course)
- The two-hour, instructor led webinar is intended to enhance your organization’s resilience and awareness of and preparedness for potential active shooter threats.

Read more about Virtual Training Opportunities Available Hosted by CISA and New Mexico Tech

GHS/OCD Hosts ICS 300 & 400 Training Opportunities

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD), in coordination with the Port Authority of Guam (PAG), will host two Incident Command System (ICS) training opportunities at the PAG Training Room, Piti. The courses follow:

ICS-300 Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents: Monday, April 21 – Wednesday, April 23, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.:
ICS-400 Advanced Incident Command System for Complex Incidents: Thursday, April 24 – Friday, April 25, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Read more about GHS/OCD Hosts ICS 300 & 400 Training Opportunities

Dangerous Rip Currents Expected Thursday Morning through Saturday

The National Weather Service (NWS) Guam Weather Forecast Office advised a high risk of rip currents is in effect for east facing reefs of Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan from early Thursday morning through Saturday afternoon. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from the shore into deeper water. If caught in a rip current, do not swim against the current. Swim in a direction following the shoreline, face the shore and call or wave for help.

Read more about Dangerous Rip Currents Expected Thursday Morning through Saturday

No Tsunami Threat to Marianas from Tonga Earthquake

The U.S. Geological Survey recorded an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 that occurred 90 km SE of Pangai, Tonga at 10:18 p.m. (ChST), with a depth of 10.0 km.

As advised by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, there is no tsunami threat to the Marianas at this time.

This will be the only statement issued unless additional information is received.

For more information, contact GHS/OCD Public Information Officer, Jenna Blas at (671) 489-2540 or via email at jenna.g.blas@ghs.guam.

Read more about No Tsunami Threat to Marianas from Tonga Earthquake

Small Craft Advisory and Dangerous Rip Currents Expected this Evening

The National Weather Service (NWS) Guam Weather Forecast Office has the following advisories in effect:

A high risk of rip currents is in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan from 6 p.m. this evening through Tuesday afternoon. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from the shore into deeper water. If caught in a rip current, do not swim against the current. Swim in a direction following the shoreline, face the shore and call or wave for help.

Read more about Small Craft Advisory and Dangerous Rip Currents Expected this Evening

DLAN Emergency Management System Operational

Agana Heights, Guam – The DisasterLAN (DLAN) emergency management system has been restored as of March 28, 2025 and is now accessible by emergency managers. The loss of service from March 17 - March 28, 2025 had no impact to operations.

DLAN is a secure, web-based, mobile friendly emergency management system that provides tools for shared situational awareness, workflow-based information management, and real-time communication to help prepare for, respond to, and report on issues.

Read more about DLAN Emergency Management System Operational

GHS/OCD, NBG, and AAFB to Conduct Routine Testing of Advanced Warning Systems

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD), U.S. Naval Base Guam (NBG), and Andersen Air Force Base (AAFB) will conduct routine testing of the vital communication and advance warning system sirens, respectively, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, starting at 3:15 p.m.

GHS/OCD will test the All Hazards Alert Warning System (AHAWS) sirens in conjunction with NBG and AAFB monthly routine testing of the “Giant Voice (GV)” sirens.

Read more about GHS/OCD, NBG, and AAFB to Conduct Routine Testing of Advanced Warning Systems

Notice of Interest Period for Mitigation Grants Extended to March 28; Applicants Encouraged to Submit

Agana Heights, Guam - The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has extended the Notice of Interest (NOI) period for the FY2024 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant programs to Friday, March 28, 2025.

Read more about Notice of Interest Period for Mitigation Grants Extended to March 28; Applicants Encouraged to Submit

Hazardous Surf and Dangerous Rip Currents Expected by Wednesday

The National Weather Service (NWS) Guam Weather Forecast Office has the following advisories in effect:

A high surf advisory will be in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan from 6 a.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Friday. Large breaking waves of 7 to 10 feet are expected. Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion are expected. Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions.

Read more about Hazardous Surf and Dangerous Rip Currents Expected by Wednesday

No Immediate Threat to Marianas Assessed from Reported North Korea Launch

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD), in conjunction with the Mariana Regional Fusion Center (MRFC), federal and military partners, continue to monitor events surrounding the region including reports of the recent launch of an unidentified projectile out of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) today.

Read more about No Immediate Threat to Marianas Assessed from Reported North Korea Launch

25.6 C / 78 F

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PREPAREDNESS

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OPERATIONS

CONTACT GHS/OCD

Wildfire

Fire Weather

Drought

Conserve water

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Definition of Terrorism

June 2018 is Typhoon Preparedness Month

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