JIC Release No. 17: Governor tasks Guam Housing Corp to assist displaced families

Governor Calvo spoke with residents temporarily sheltered at the Astumbo Gym.

With him were Chris Duenas, Guam Housing Corporation administrator, and Caesar Villanueva special assistant. The Governor has charged Duenas with transitioning the 52 displaced families from their current temporary shelter to permanent housing.

“I was able to speak with the families and I want to make sure we get them the help they need to get permanent housing,” the Governor stated. “We have some families who are actively seeking housing. Others are in a slightly different situation and need additional assistance.”

Another concern is the displaced families who are citizens of federally associated states, which means they are not eligible for federal emergency assistance. This was an issue the Governor raised to visiting Department of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Affairs Douglas Domenech. The Governor will be following up on that conversation with a letter to the Secretary as well as FSM President Peter Christian.

“With the onset of the storm and with the current situation these residents I want to see if we can finally come to some resolution to help these folks. We had a similar situation in a previous typhoon – we were able to help them though it wasn’t easy. I do not want these folks left out in the cold,” Governor Calvo stated.

PERMANENT SHELTER
The Governor also met with Mayor Melissa Savares, thanking her and her team, and the Mayors Council — as well as Department of Education employees – for their assistance with helping those who were displaced through the storm.

Duenas stated that during the discussion with the families and the mayor they shared a mix of situations.

“The real emphasis on the program is the three tiers: emergency, temporary, and permanent with the ultimate goal that we have as we assist these families being permanent,” Duenas said. “I want to make sure all of the housing programs are brought together so we can provide as much assistance as possible and getting them prepared for housing so we have a permanent solution for them.”

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.