JIC Release No. 1 - Guam in COR 3; GDOE Schools to End Early on Monday; Take Action to Prepare - GHS OCD

Governor Lou Leon Guerrero has placed Guam in Condition of Readiness (COR) 3 at 9 p.m. this evening. At COR 3, damaging winds of 39-57 mph are possible within 48 hours. Earlier this afternoon, Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson placed the respective military bases in Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness (TCCOR) 3.

At COR 3, school and government of Guam operations are expected to conduct business as usual tomorrow.

The change from COR 4 to COR 3 is in preparation for Tropical Depression 16W’s approach to Guam. 16W is expected to maintain a westward track the next couple of days with a gradual reduction in forward speed, bringing it near Guam around midday Tuesday. Maximum sustained winds remain at 35 mph. 16W is expected to maintain this intensity or weaken slightly through Monday before regaining tropical storm status early Tuesday. On its current track, 16W is expected to bring damaging winds of 39 mph or more to Guam by Monday night or Tuesday morning. Any northward deviation or change in the current forecast track could bring stronger winds over more of Guam.

As of 7 p.m., 16W was located near latitude 12.8 north and longitude 153.9 east, about 570 miles east-southeast of Saipan, and 615 miles east of Guam. It is moving west at 24 mph with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph.

A tropical storm watch remains in effect for Guam and is now in effect for Rota. Tropical storm conditions, including damaging winds of 39 mph or more, are possible late Monday night or Tuesday.

GDOE Schools to End Early on Monday
In preparation for Tropical Depression 16W and any possibility to open emergency shelters, the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) has issued a schedule for early release times for GDOE schools. Any information regarding emergency shelters will be released once available. The GDOE early release times for Monday, August 16 follow:

11:30 a.m. early release:

Tiyan High School
J.P. Torres/Central Success Academy
Southern High School
John F. Kennedy High School

12:15 p.m. early release:

Simon Sanchez High School
George Washington High School
Okkodo High School

1:00 p.m. early release:

All GDOE Elementary Schools

2:00 p.m. early release:

All GDOE Middle Schools

GDOE parents are asked to begin picking up their children at the specified release times. Bussing services will be provided to transport students home.

Take Action to Prepare

Those living in flood-prone areas should take action; clear drainage areas and unblock clogged storm drains in your area to minimize flooding.
Be prepared to take action if flood advisories are issued. In inclement weather, avoid camping, parking, or hiking along streams, rivers, and creeks during heavy rainfall. These areas can flood quickly and with little warning. Visit https://www.ready.gov/floods to learn more.
Clear loose debris around your yard and store any items such as tents and canopies that may become airborne with heavy winds before inclement weather arrives.
Stay up to date with the latest information. The system track or intensity may change, and advisories may be issued.
Locate or prepare your emergency preparedness kits for your household; stock up on non-perishable food items and water, flashlights, first-aid kits, batteries, matches or lighters, portable stove, toiletries, etc. Visit https://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit for more information on what to include in your supplies list.
Secure important documents such as birth certificates, tax papers, and insurance documents and keep copies in a water-proof bag.
Gas your vehicles and get fuel for your generators now while the weather is clear.

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

For more information, contact the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10 beginning Monday, 8 a.m.

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. 1 - Guam in COR 3; GDOE Schools to End Early on Monday; Take Action to Prepare