Press Release -Typhoon Pakyo 2021 Virtual Workshop Completed

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD), along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region IX, cohosted the Typhoon Pakyo 2021 Virtual Workshop from Tuesday, June 8 through Friday, June 11, 2021.

The four-day workshop provided a forum of discussion and analysis of preparedness and response activities; and prepared key stakeholders and emergency management partners for their roles and responsibilities during a catastrophic typhoon. Participants talked through the planning considerations of the Guam Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (Guam CEMP) and the Catastrophic Typhoon Plan. The annual exercise provides the opportunity to evaluate federal and territorial integration with the GHS/OCD Emergency Operations Center.

Each day amassed over 100 participants from the Government of Guam, Joint Region Marianas, respective military, federal, and Department of Defense partners, private and non-profit organizations, and other emergency management partners that play a role in preparedness for, response to, and recovery from a major storm.

This year’s Typhoon Pakyo workshop is in preparation for the upcoming Typhoon Pakyo Tabletop Exercise in 2022 and the planned Typhoon Pakyo Regional Full-Scale Exercise in 2023 in coordination with the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas.

“Workshops and exercises help us practice plans, review our assumptions and prepare more effectively to respond together to disasters,” said FEMA Regional Administrator Robert Fenton. “Guam’s Typhoon Pakyo events strengthen partnerships and readiness across many agencies, and we train the way we will in real emergencies.”

“Each year we look forward to the outcome of exercises and workshops like Typhoon Pakyo 2021 to identify any areas that need to be addressed prior to a real-world event,” said Office of Civil Defense Acting Administrator Patrick Leon Guerrero. “The discussion items from last week’s workshop strengthen Guam’s ability to respond and recover from a catastrophic typhoon and it was great to see that collaborations are underway, plans are being completed, and the various agencies are prepared to execute these tasks if and when the time comes.”

For more information, contact GHS/OCD Public Information Officer, Jenna G. Blas at (671) 489-2540 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.