JIC Recovery Release No. 43 - Disaster Assistance Accessible, Let FEMA Know Your Needs; Disaster Debris Site Advisory - GHS OCD

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) mission is helping people before, during and after disasters in ways that maximize the inclusion of, and accessibility for, people with disabilities.

FEMA provides federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, the public sector and non-profit organizations with the tools, training, resources, and strategies necessary to help ensure that people with disabilities can participate in, and benefit from, programs and services during all phases of emergency management.

Let FEMA Know Your Needs:

Be sure to let FEMA know if you have an accessibility need. During the application process, applicants for FEMA disaster assistance have equal access to FEMA programs and services. Applicants with disabilities who need accommodation should inform FEMA.

A disaster can take away important items that enable people with disabilities to live independently or to communicate. These include a wheelchair, scooter, walker, CPAP machine, hearing aids, eyeglasses, screen reader or other assistive medical device. Let FEMA know if you have an accessibility need.

Applicants who go to a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will be able to meet with specialists who can help them apply for disaster assistance and provide other information. FEMA specialists use assistive technology to serve those who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Specialists can connect you with an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter through Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) to help complete your disaster assistance application or schedule an appointment for an in-person ASL interpreter.

FEMA is also distributing written information in multiple languages so everyone affected by Typhoon Mawar knows of the assistance that is available to them. Additionally, translation services for Chuukese, Pohnpeian, Kosraean, and Yapese are being provided by the Micronesian Resource Center One-Stop Shop at the Dededo Sports Complex Disaster Recovery Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. For more information on their services, call 671-686-2227.

Typhoon survivors who speak other languages can also call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. There are multilingual operators available, simply press 2 for Spanish and 3 for other languages.

FEMA and the U.S. Territory of Guam also have interpreters skilled in American Sign Language (ASL) ready to assist when needed.

FEMA brochure: Help After a Disaster (published in 27 languages)

Go to YouTube: FEMA Accessible: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance

For answers to other questions about FEMA disaster assistance, go here.

For information on Guam’s recovery, go here. Follow FEMA on Twitter and Facebook

Typhoon Mawar Disaster Debris Site Advisory – Dededo and Tiyan Experiencing HIGH VOLUME:

Typhoon Mawar disaster debris disposal sites at the former Tiyan carnival grounds in Barrigada and the former transfer station in Dededo are experiencing a high volume of disposal activity. Residents are urged to visit the disaster debris disposal site located at Ypao Point in Tamuning. At this time, Ypao Point in Tamuning is not experiencing high volume. High volumes of disposal at Tiyan and Dededo sites vary and will impact capacities to accept green waste and household trash.

As a reminder, residents are urged to take note of the following:

Beginning Monday, June 12, 2023, the following typhoon debris disposal sites effective hours of operation will be 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., seven days a week:
- Dededo Transfer Station
- Ypao Point, Tamuning
- Former Tiyan Carnival Grounds in Barrigada
The DYA Cottage Homes site on Vicente Castro Street in Talofofo is only open for GREEN WASTE.
To ensure efficient flow at each typhoon debris disposal site, residents must PRE-SORT AND SEGREGATE waste prior to arrival at the typhoon debris disposal sites.

If any of the typhoon debris disposal sites lack the capacity to accept household trash, residents will be advised to visit the Guam Solid Waste Authority’s (GSWA) residential transfer stations. Residents will incur a fee for household trash disposal at GSWA’s transfer stations beginning June 12, 2023.

The typhoon disaster debris sites will accept the following waste types:

Metallic waste (i.e. ferrous, non-ferrous metals, cans, misc. loose metals and tin)
Construction debris (i.e. building materials, drywall, lumber, carpet, furniture, plumbing)
Household hazardous waste (i.e. Oil, batteries, pesticides, paint, cleaning supplies,
Green waste (i.e. vegetative debris, trees, grass clippings, branches, logs, leaves)
Damaged home furniture (i.e. carpet, beds, sofa, tables)
Damaged electronic and appliances (i.e. televisions, computers, refrigerators, washers, dryers, stoves)
Household trash

Guam EPA personnel will be on-site to inspect debris loads, and waste types not approved for disposal at these three sites will be rejected. The identification, transportation and disposal of household hazardous waste is made possible through the coordination of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Visit the following links for the latest information:

Governor’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/govlouguam
GHS/OCD Website: https://ghs.guam.gov/
GHS/OCD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHSOCD/

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

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 Recovery Release No. 43 - Disaster Assistance Accessible, Let FEMA Know Your Needs; Disaster Debris Site Advisory