JIC Recovery Release No. 110 - FEMA Mitigation Teams Engage with More Than 10,000 Guam Residents - GHS OCD

FEMA Mitigation Teams Engage with More Than 10,000 Guam Residents

Although the deadline to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance has passed, FEMA’s support for Guam residents’ recovery journey remains steadfast. The FEMA Mitigation teams have been tirelessly working with the survivors to raise awareness about potential hazards, promote preparedness measures, and to emphasize on personal and community involvement in mitigating disaster risks.

By Aug. 15, FEMA Mitigation teams had interacted with more than 10,000 residents in Guam, both at the Disaster Recovery Centers and within their communities.

FEMA Mitigation specialists have engaged with 5,465 survivors at Disaster Recovery Centers. They answered various questions from these survivors on how to enhance storm resilience, and equipped the residents with informative guidance and relatable techniques for a stronger and more resilient recovery.

As part of the continued effort to meet survivors where they are, FEMA Mitigation teams also extend the mitigation support to 4,868 survivors within their own communities. The teams set up informational tables at easily accessible venues like shopping malls, local groceries, or hardware stores. At these locations, they have shared practical advice and proven tips to help the residents and communities get better prepared for future disasters. With a growing list of the outreach locations, the teams aim to make this free service available to even more residents in Guam.

According to the FEMA Mitigation specialists, safeguarding your home doesn’t have to be costly. In addition to fortifying the structure, simple actions such as pruning oversized trees and shrubs away from your house, keeping drains and gutters clear of debris, may reduce the risk of future damage.

More Information for Mitigation

· Property Owners and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (fema.gov)

· Homeowner’s Guide to Retrofitting (fema.gov)

· Overview of FEMA P-499, 2010 Edition, Homebuilder's Guide to Coastal Construction (fema.gov)

· Overview of FMEA P-804, 2010 Edition, Wind Retrofit Guide for Residential Buildings (fema.gov)

· FEMA Building Science Resources to Assist with Reconstruction after an Extreme-Wind Event (fema.gov)

· Infographic: 8 Tips to Cleanup Mold | CDC

For the latest information regarding the locations and dates of FEMA Mitigation outreach, please check the news release.

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. 110 - FEMA Mitigation Teams Engage with More Than 10,000 Guam Residents